Book Review Her Hesitant Heart

Things haven't really slowed down, but just for my sanity's sake I fit in some reading and finished Her Hesitant Heart by Carla Kelly.

Her Hesitant Heart is about Susanna Hopkins, a divorced woman who is traveling west to Wyoming to accept a teaching position in Fort Laramie.  The details of western life in the late 1800s are amazing and really add to the authenticity of the story.  I loved Susanna's spirit, even though she's suffering through some agonizing personal trials of being separated from her son and the emotional toll of the abusive relationship with her now ex-husband.

The doctor at the fort, Joseph Randolph, also has his own personal demons that he's trying to work through.  He takes Susanna under his wing when the military families don't take kindly to her and the story grows from there.  I like how Ms. Kelly shows the growth in the characters in a very organic way as they work toward reconciling their pasts so they might have a future.  The characters feel real, both main and secondary, and when tragedy strikes anyone at the fort, you feel it along with them.  This was definitely a nice historical afternoon read.  For my clean read friends, this one does have some intimate scenes, but they weren't graphic and were between a married couple, so be aware of that.

Here's the back copy:

Tired and hungry after two days of traveling, Susanna Hopkins is just about at the end of her tether when her train finally arrives in Cheyenne. She's bound for a new life in a Western garrison town. Then she discovers she doesn't even have enough money to pay for the stagecoach! Luckily for her, the compassionate Major Joseph Randolph is heading in the same direction.

As a military surgeon, Joe is used to keeping his professional distance. But, despite Susanna's understated beauty, he's drawn to this woman who carries loss and pain equal to his own and has a heart that is just as hesitant and wary..

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Memorial Day

I hope you're taking advantage of this Memorial Day to hug your loved ones a little bit closer and remember those who have gone on before us.

I'm so grateful for my belief and knowledge in a hereafter where families are reunited and a loving Savior will wrap his arms around us and welcome us home.

Until we meet again . . .

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First Page Friday--Oops!

Well, remember on Wednesday when I mentioned this has been the busiest week of my life?  Yeah, I had a little snafu when I thought that this was the last Friday of the month, so I gave the critique to Angela Eschler instead of Ms. Shreditor.  And, of course, Angela is critiquing next week for the last week of the month, as usual.  And poor Ms. Shreditor didn't get a sample to critique because of my mistake.  *sigh*

So, instead of a new critique from Ms. Shreditor, there's just a very sorry and red-faced Julie Bellon.

However, all is not lost.  I was going back over some of the very first First Page Fridays on the blog in 2011 and I thought I'd link you to Ms. Shreditor's debut critique.  The comment trail was pretty good, too!  Lots of great memories from when this blog first started.  Click here to read it.

I'm very sorry about the mistake, but hope you liked the walk down memory lane.  Come back next week for an all new First Page Friday.

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Author Newsletters--What Do You Want To See?

Yesterday I sent out a newsletter to my mailing list talking about my new book, the conference I'm presenting at next month, what I'm working on, etc. etc.  It's supposed to be a quarterly newsletter, but lately it's been more like a bi-annual newsletter.

I know several authors who have newsletter that put them out monthly, but lately I've been wondering how effective newsletters are.  I love hearing from my readers and I know I could use my newsletter more effectively, but what do my readers want to see?

Do you ever read exclusive content that comes in a newsletter?  Like deleted scenes, stuff like that?

What is your motivation for reading newsletters?  Catching up with your favorite authors?  Hoping for free stuff?

Do you like writing tips in newsletters?  What kind of stuff do you like to see?

Chime in, because this author really wants to know.

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Word Count Wednesday & Come Vote For Me

Well, this has been one of the busiest weeks of my life so my word count is zero.  I did think of a few more possible plot twists for Bart's story, and I'm glad about that.  I just need to sit and write them down.

I did want to mention that there are only two more days to vote for me in the public voting for the RONE awards.  What's that you ask?  Here's the info:

My book All Fall Down, is up for a RONE award which honors the best of independently published and small press books. This is the second round where the public can vote and I’m asking you to vote for me. Please keep in mind voting ends this Friday.

In order to make it fair, the sponsors have required that everyone register so no one can robo-vote. It is fast and easy, and they don’t spam, so if you don’t mind that one extra step, I would really appreciate it.

All you have to do is register, log in, go to Fun Stuff Week 5 and vote for All Fall Down by Julie Bellon.

Of course if you don't think my book merits this award, then you are not under any obligation to vote for it.

Click here for the link to register and vote.

How did you do on your word count this week?

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Hawaii Five-O Season Finale---My Thoughts

Well, it took me a little while to write this post because I had to gather my thoughts.  There was so much action, secrets, and emotion in this episode, it was hard to pinpoint one thing that summed up my feelings.

I loved the Kono/Adam investigating to clear her name.  I loved Steve and Danny coming to her rescue.  I loved how evil Michael was and I'm so sad about Fong.  I hope he makes it.  He deserves that, especially with how he's been there for Kono every time she's needed him.  The look he gave Adam as he took those gloves said so much.  *sigh*  And yes, despite that, I love Adam's character.  It's never black and white with him, he's so complex, and I love that.  He's easy on the eyes, too.  The ending scene at the dock was so poignant with Steve protesting, Chin saying let her go, and Kono leaving.  I will miss her and Adam.  Hopefully she's not gone too long.  (Although I have to say seeing Doris get on that boat was a highlight for me.  I hate her character and am SO GLAD she left.  *Julie's happy dance*)

Then we had the whole Wo Fat thing.  I love the energy in scenes with Steve and Wo Fat, but I really really don't want him to be Steve's half-brother.  And I hate that he's so disfigured.  Such a waste.  But the ending with the door being broken through and Steve's face saying who's coming was a bit of a let-down.  What's Steve going to do?  It's not like he has a weapon or any way out of there.  And why would he save Wo Fat?  He hates him.  I guess Wo Fat has answers about why Doris came to see him, but that hardly seems like much motivation for Steve to employ his super SEAL skills to save him.  I guess we'll find out in four months.

And, as you all know, I'm a big McRoll fan and while we didn't have a whole lot of them, we did have Catherine's old love show up, which could be very interesting in the fall if he pursues her.  Maybe Steve will have to man up and really make a commitment of some sort to Catherine instead of saying things like, "she's not my girlfriend," and "we have an understanding."  Jealous Steve might be fun to watch, too.

So, at the season's end we have Gabby and Danny hugging in his house, Chin calling up his prison riot fellow prisoner saying he's ready, Kono's with Adam, and Steve and Catherine are together.  For now.  Not a bad way to end the season if I do say so myself.

Did you see any great season finales lately?

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4th Annual LDS Writer Blogfest---A Personal Book Review of 21 Principles

This week I've been reading the 21 Principles---Divine Truths to Help You Live By the Spirit by Richard G. Scott.  He is an apostle in my church and I love his frank way of presenting things.  There were so many principles that applied to me in his book, but Principle 3 has stuck with me all week and I really want to share some of my thoughts about it with you because it encompasses a lot of how I feel about my writing and my religion.

Elder Scott presents Principle 3 as "Repeatedly I have been impressed to learn that to reach a goal never before attained, one must do things never before done."

He goes on to talk about how he tried his hand at watercolors, even though he wasn't that great at painting.  He took lessons from a master, received constructive criticism and noticed his work getting better.  He said he still felt accomplishment from the first sale of one of his paintings and an award he received.  But the thing that touched me the most was how he described his change in sensitivity and awareness of the world around him.  People's faces became a fascinating study of light and shadow and texture and he thought more about the miracle of color and expression of feeling through art.  And these things made him appreciate God's creations more.  He goes on to say,

"Search for feelings that prompt you to try something new yourself, and if they are not there strive to generate them.  Try art, poetry, prose, music, dance, photography, clothing design, or anything you haven't done before.  Otherwise you may never know the thrill of personal creativity nor enter the doors it opens to insight, enjoyment and wonder.  Every individual has creative capacity.  The satisfaction and growth creativity generates is intended for each of us, not just for the most gifted.  To try takes courage."

When I was young I knew I wanted to be a published author.  As I worked on my English degree at BYU I wrote my first novel.  I felt that thrill of creating something.  Of course when I submitted it, it was rejected and I let doubt in myself creep in.  I gave up.  I put the manuscript under my bed and let it gather dust.  I wish I would have read Elder Scott's words then when he said, "Believe in yourself.  Doubt destroys creativity, while faith strengthens it."

But then, a year later, I was talking about my rejection experience with a friend and she encouraged me to try again.  Make the changes, she said, and submit it again.  So I did.  And I received an offer for publication within a week.  I achieved my goal, but I'd wasted a lot of time letting doubt creep in when I should have had faith in myself.

I love being a writer.  I love creating characters that can help me present my perspective on life and explore all kind of myriad experiences.  I listen and observe the world around me more because I see creation in relationships and humanity accompanied by emotion wherever I look.  When I'm watching a mother and her young son at the grocery store and she's kissing his face even though there's sticky ice cream all over it, I smile.  When I see beautiful cloud pictures in the sky during a fiery sunset I marvel.  When I look at my sleeping babies tucked into bed I know I'm blessed.  Being a writer makes me look deeper, feel more, and appreciate it all.

I feel like I was given the seeds of a talent by a loving Heavenly Father who knew that if I developed this talent I would find joy and personal satisfaction.  It took courage to do it in the first place and to continue with it, but I'm so glad I did.  Not only have I achieved a goal, but I've met so many wonderful people who have helped and cheered me along the way.

I've learned a lot about myself while I focused on my goal of being a published writer.  I've learned to find balance in my life, I've learned I have limits, and I've learned that I have an Eternal Friend in my Savior who is always there to lean on, to help me through the dark days, and to share my happiness at my learning and growth, not just in my writing, but life in general and I'm so grateful for that.

I hope you will try something, whether it's writing or painting or dancing or whatever, that can help you see the world in a different way, that will give you a goal and personal satisfaction when you meet that goal.  I hope you will look at the incredible world around us and feel something stir in you at our Heavenly Father's creations.  But most of all I hope you find belief in yourself and your abilities.  Find your courage and try to create something.  We've all been given the ability now we just have to do it!

So go on.  You won't be sorry.

Here's a list of other blogs that are participating in the blog fest today.  Check them out!

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