Are you looking up at a mountain? 03/30/2012
Staring at a mountain in your life can become pretty daunting. If you are not careful, you’ll get discouraged and think you can never ever climb that mountain and then cross to the next valley. That’s when; digging deep inside yourself to find the courage to continue to the valley of your dreams is the answer. For me, faith is the first step to getting at the answer of how to traverse the mountain pass. If I don’t have faith that God is watching out for me and has a plan, then I’m walking in my own strength.  My mom used to always tell me that where there’s a will, there’s a way. I truly believe she was right in drilling that into my mind and heart. If I don’t have a desire to succeed and strive for success, how will I ever cross that mountain? However, willpower is not the only ingredient needed to trek through that mountain pass. You need climbing gear and food and to basically be prepared for the unexpected. In your writing life, you need the same thing. Have you studied and learned your craft? Are you keeping current on all the best marketing strategies? What about your emotional needs for encouragement ~ have you linked up with other authors who can provide that encouragement to you? If you are prepared with your power pack and have the will power to succeed, your trek through the mountain won’t be easy, but you will make it to the valley of your dreams. Even if you don't see results right away, keep going; because if you don't, you'll surely never see any results at all. Add Comment What's the Missing Link? 02/24/2012
What’s the missing link that you need in order to succeed in your marketing mission for your work as an author—it’s a deep-seated need to succeed at all costs…it’s not giving up when things get tough…it’s believing in yourself even if no one else does…it’s keeping the end goal in sight.  So many times we lose sight of the end goal and get bogged down with the daily grind so we don’t focus on where we need to be but instead focus on where we are and get discouraged. Discouragement is normal, but allowing yourself to live there is not good and does not advance your plan towards success. Things don’t always go as planned—that’s a given in this life, but you need to learn to roll with the punches and reformulate your action plan as you go. Change is good, even though we don’t always want to embrace that change. If you are able to keep the end goal in sight even when change is happening, you’ll be better able to deal with the changing circumstances and move forward towards success. When things are going well, we sometimes slack off a bit and let go of the reigns—we need to continue riding forward no matter what the circumstances. In both good times and bad, it’s important to maintain a solid mental focus that reminds you that perseverance is needed and in order to succeed, you need to take chances. Not everyone is a risk taker. Now I’m not talking about parachuting out of planes type of risk-taking, but every now and then stepping outside your comfort zone and doing something for your marketing that you’ve never thought you’d ever do. For starters, I did a radio interview several months ago and I was so nervous to do that, but it went well. I was offered the opportunity to do an interview on an internet TV station for the same radio company, but I’ve been too nervous to accept. I need to practice what I preach and get going on that opportunity. Make sure you stay true to yourself. No matter what marketing opportunities come into your life, only accept those that allow you to remain true to yourself. Stay true to yourself in your writing as well. Write from your heart and your readers will love what you want to share with them. If they know that you’re writing from their heart, they’ll come back for more of your work. If writing is a dream of yours and is your passion, then don’t give up. Those who give up will never succeed. True success is reserved for those who make a consistent effort and never let up. Are You Looking up at a Mountain? 01/27/2012
Staring at a mountain in your life can become pretty daunting. If you are not careful, you’ll get discouraged and think you can never ever climb that mountain and then cross to the next valley. That’s when; digging deep inside yourself to find the courage to continue to the valley of your dreams is the answer. For me, faith is the first step to getting at the answer of how to traverse the mountain pass. If I don’t have faith that God is watching out for me and has a plan, then I’m walking in my own strength.  My mom used to always tell me that where there’s a will, there’s a way. I truly believe she was right in drilling that into my mind and heart. If I don’t have a desire to succeed and strive for success, how will I ever cross that mountain? However, willpower is not the only ingredient needed to trek through that mountain pass. You need climbing gear and food and to basically be prepared for the unexpected. In your writing life, you need the same thing. Have you studied and learned your craft? Are you keeping current on all the best marketing strategies? What about your emotional needs for encouragement ~ have you linked up with other authors who can provide that encouragement to you? If you are prepared with your power pack and have the will power to succeed, your trek through the mountain won’t be easy, but you will make it to the valley of your dreams. Even if you don't see results right away, keep going; because if you don't, you'll surely never see any results at all. I really want to encourage other authors to keep going to achieve their dreams, even when the going gets tough. I’d like to share inspiring stories from other authors who have been successful and achieved success making it over the hurdles in their way. If you are an author who would like to share an encouraging story about your writing career, please contact me. I would love to schedule you for a guest post on my blog. Have a blessed day! It Only Takes a Mustard Seed 01/03/2012
The mustard seed is as small as a kernel of corn or a grain of wheat and yet that one seed (of the black seed variety) can grow into a shrub / tree that is 12 feet tall. This variety is found in Israel.  I’ve read those scriptures in the Bible where Jesus told a parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.” (Matt. 13:31) The other scripture is found in Matt. 17:20, “He replied, ‘Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as a small mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’” The first scripture references the kingdom of God which starts out small but grows very large. From 12 disciples, Jesus reached a world. The second scripture utilizes the image of the mustard seed and its small size and then immense growth to show us that even if we only have a little bit of faith, our belief in God can move mountains in our lives. After learning about mustard seeds and how they relate to the message of faith—and that such a tiny seed could grow to great height—that was how the title for my blog was born: It Only Takes a Mustard Seed to make a Dream Grow. With a child-like faith, we need to trust in God and know that He does hear all of our prayers and will answer. The answer may not be what we’d like to hear, but He will respond and He has the best in mind for us. Have you had any experiences in your life where you needed to trust God completely and felt that you learned the valuable lesson of the mustard seed? It’s vital to our walk with the Lord to keep our faith alive and well. Please share with us your stories of faith—I know we’d all be encouraged by them when you do. Your Words Have an Impact 01/02/2012
The way we speak to each other and the tone of our voices is powerful ~ life and death is in the tongue. How does this apply to the words we, as authors, write? The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:21)  I believe the same principle applies ~ there is power in our words. As authors, we take great pains to make certain that the words we write and the stories that take shape are our best work. We edit those words and reread them and then edit them again. We want our finished product to exemplify the story that our imagination birthed. Does this process apply to everything we write? It should apply, at least to a lesser degree. Even when we write emails or texts or post comments on facebook and twitter and when we write our blogs, we need to remember the principle that life and death is in our words. When you send an email, you can’t take it back. Are you sure you were happy with the email you sent? It may not seem like a big deal, but everything we write will come around ~ do you want it to haunt you or bless you? When you write a blog, try to keep it professional but find the balance with a sense of your personality ~ make your blog inviting to those who follow you. Remember that you are not only writing to your readers and fellow authors, but also to those publishers and book reviewers who may happen to find your blog. If you are writing with a negative attitude and bashing other authors or giving a tirade about your noisy neighbors, that won’t seem very professional to them and could turn them off. Your words could lead to a lost awesome book deal or lost great book review. When you do an author interview, if you’re speaking on the radio, be professional, but share your own personality and give the sense that you are a friendly person. When you are answering interview questions to be posted online on a blog or magazine, remember the same principle ~ there is power in our words. Just remember that at any point in time, someone out there in the world is or could be soon looking at your interview. Don’t be negative, but keep that positive tone. If you are at a book signing, keep to the same principle. You don’t want to let a bad day negatively affect how you speak to your fans. Always keep the filter on your mouth and think before you speak. This is a lesson we all need to continually learn day by day. Of course, I’m not telling you to act fake and not who you really are. It’s just that as an author, you do have a higher responsibility to be careful with your words, if you’re looking to be a blessing to others and not a negative force in this world. There are so many instances where we, as authors, will need to write words and speak words. When you are writing a letter or email to a prospective publisher or agent, keep the tone professional, yet friendly. Always remain cognizant of the power of life and death in your words. A Journey of Self-Discovery 10/13/2011
A journey of self-discovery is bittersweet ~ first, you see the person you are and then, you see the person God wants you to become. Who am I? What kind of person is looking back at me when I look into the mirror every day? That question has been on my mind lately.  My husband and I have been reading the book, Deadly Emotions by Dr. Don Colbert. We read a section every night after our Bible reading time before we pray together. This book has been very intense—but in a good way. We’ve been learning how negative emotions are really toxic for your physical body and that there is a connection between your mind/soul, body and spirit. I always knew that but this book has driven that point home to me. In this life each person carries baggage. It is part of life’s cycle. We’re born, we live and we die. The important question is what are you doing with your time while you’re here? Are you living and preparing for eternity? Do you even care what’s going to happen when you die? Do you think how you live your life even matters? I think the how and the why matters more than we think they do. As a Christian, I am saved by grace and know where I’m going when I die, but I still believe that “faith without works is dead.” God has called us to be good stewards of our lives—time, talents, wealth, the whole package. Are we living with an attitude of gratitude or only looking at things with the glass is half-empty perspective? Are we living with the good of others in mind or only for our own gain? I know…I told you this book, by Dr. Colbert, is good. It has gotten me thinking about life. I’m trying to live my life being good to my body. I work out three times a week, I try to eat healthy foods, but have I really been good to my soul? Yes, I’ve been feeding my spirit by reading God’s Word and praying, but I’ve been neglecting my mind/soul. Every time I allow anger or depression or tension or any other negative emotion to rule in my life, it is not only harming my mind/soul, but also is negatively affecting my physical body. My Pastor once said if you get two out of three in line, the other one will fall into place as well. He was speaking about feeding the spirit with God’s Word and taking care of your soul and emotions so that your flesh would stay in line. So, that’s where I’m at right now—really learning how to take my time on this journey of self-discovery and find out how to become the woman of faith God really wants me to be. His grace is definitely sufficient for ALL things! Stranded on a Deserted Island 10/12/2011
So, you're stranded on a deserted island, and a genie appears to grant you three wishes. What would you wish for? Now I don't actually believe in magic genies; I am a very rational person of course, but forget about rational thought and play along.  So what would I wish for? Here are my three choices. Comment on this blog post today and share your three wishes and you'll be entered for a chance to win a copy of my eBook, Mr. Shipley's Governess. 1. I would wish for my husband and family to join me on the island. There's no fun in being stranded all alone, right!! 2. My second wish would be for a Kindle so I could catch up on all the books in my to be read pile. 3. The last thing I would wish for would be a plan to get off of the island after I've had a chance to relax and read on the beach! Let's try to bring this little exercise in creative thinking back to reality. As an author, does it sometimes feel like you are stranded, living on a deserted island and you have no way of getting out into a life of success? You may not be an author, but still feel this way as if your life is stranded and stagnant and going nowhere. My first defense when this happens is to look up to what really matters in my life - my relationship with the Lord. He never promised that life would be all roses, but He'd walk with us in all that we go through. To me that's great comfort. Life may not be today what you'd like it to be, but if you're breathing then that means you're alive for another day and that's a good thing, right! God's not a magic genie, but He is the one I look to when things are good, bad or ugly in my life. If I was really stranded on a deserted island, I'd be praying for sure. So, what would you wish for? :-) Have You Been Inspired Lately? 08/18/2011
Yesterday I had the pleasure of speaking to a small group of young aspiring writers and I came away from that afternoon very inspired myself.  It was very encouraging to see young people with such a strong desire to follow their dreams. They asked me about writing, the publishing industry, marketing your work and so many other questions—however, the main thing I took away from that moment was to get back to basics. Yes, as authors, we strive to write the best books and we work hard to market our name and get in touch with as many readers as we can, but are we making sure not to lose ourselves in the process? That’s what I found myself asking yesterday as I drove home. I told the students to always strive to be true to themselves and not to try to mold their work to fit a specific publisher’s wants. If they remain true to themselves and write from their hearts, they will find the right publisher who is looking for exactly what they have to offer. The search may take time, but if this is their dream to get published, I told them to persevere and not give up. I handed out some information on writing websites, tips for writing, ideas on how to journal and some other useful starting points and they seemed to really appreciate the help. One comment from one of the students that really impacted me was that she said--this is my dream and I’m going to make it because I’m not giving up…simple but so true and words for every author to live by. I’ve been writing for a long time now and every now and then, it’s good to rock the boat and learn from young people—people who still know how to dream. I’m trying to keep that dream alive in my heart…the dream of a 15 year old sophomore student – when my English teacher so impacted my life and I knew this was IT for me. I wanted THIS. I wanted to be a writer and nothing was going to stop me. It took a while for me to get here and I have so much further to go, but I’m here for the long haul and want to enjoy the ride and all that God has in store for my life. Has anything inspired you lately? I’d love to hear about it. A Journey of Self-Discovery 08/04/2011
A journey of self-discovery is bittersweet ~ first, you see the person you are and then, you see the person God wants you to become.  Who am I? What kind of person is looking back at me when I look into the mirror every day? That question has been on my mind lately. My husband and I have been reading the book, Deadly Emotions by Dr. Don Colbert. We read a section every night after our Bible reading time before we pray together. This book has been very intense—but in a good way. We’ve been learning how negative emotions are really toxic for your physical body and that there is a connection between your mind/soul, body and spirit. I always knew that but this book has driven that point home to me. In this life each person carries baggage. It is part of life’s cycle. We’re born, we live and we die. The important question is what are you doing with your time while you’re here? Are you living and preparing for eternity? Do you even care what’s going to happen when you die? Do you think how you live your life even matters? I think the how and the why matters more than we think they do. As a Christian, I am saved by grace and know where I’m going when I die, but I still believe that “faith without works is dead.” God has called us to be good stewards of our lives—time, talents, wealth, the whole package. Are we living with an attitude of gratitude or only looking at things with the glass is half-empty perspective? Are we living with the good of others in mind or only for our own gain? I know…I told you this book, by Dr. Colbert, is good. It has gotten me thinking about life. I’m trying to live my life being good to my body. I work out three times a week, I try to eat healthy foods, but have I really been good to my soul? Yes, I’ve been feeding my spirit by reading God’s Word and praying, but I’ve been neglecting my mind/soul. Every time I allow anger or depression or tension or any other negative emotion to rule in my life, it is not only harming my mind/soul, but also is negatively affecting my physical body. My Pastor once said if you get two out of three in line, the other one will fall into place as well. He was speaking about feeding the spirit with God’s Word and taking care of your soul and emotions so that your flesh would stay in line. So, that’s where I’m at right now—really learning how to take my time on this journey of self-discovery and find out how to become the woman of faith God really wants me to be. His grace is definitely sufficient for ALL things! It Only Takes a Mustard Seed 04/12/2011
In my devotional time the other day with my husband, we were reading about the mustard seed and how it is as small as a kernel of corn or a grain of wheat and yet that one seed (of the black seed variety) can grow into a shrub / tree that is 12 feet tall. This variety is found in Israel.  I’ve read those scriptures in the Bible where Jesus told a parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.” (Matt. 13:31) The other scripture is found in Matt. 17:20, “He replied, ‘Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as a small mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’” The first scripture references the kingdom of God which starts out small but grows very large. From 12 disciples, Jesus reached a world. The second scripture utilizes the image of the mustard seed and its small size and then immense growth to show us that even if we only have a little bit of faith, our belief in God can move mountains in our lives. I haven’t had a title for my blog until just yesterday. I was praying about what to call my blog and I remembered what we learned about the mustard seed. It struck me that such a tiny seed could grow to a great height. That’s how the title for my blog was born: It Only Takes a Mustard Seed to make a Dream Grow. With a child-like faith, we need to trust in God and know that He does hear all of our prayers and will answer. The answer may not be what we’d like to hear, but He will respond and He has the best in mind for us.  I also thought today was a good day to discuss the topic of the mustard seed because it is “Home Farming” day today. My husband and I have a garden outside and for the past two years we’ve enjoyed eating fresh veggies. We’ve been thinking about doing a hydroponics garden inside; you grow plants / vegetables inside with mineral nutrients in water and no soil. The good thing about this is you can grow vegetables all year long, which is good for us since we live in a 4 climate zone and can’t have a garden all year long. For more information on “Home Farming Day,” check out this website: http://www.homefarming.com. You can enter to win $1,000 for Ultimate Home Farm. I’d love to know your thoughts on this. Do you have a vegetable garden at home? | Click photo to view Blog Trailer
 BLOG BUTTON CODE is listed at the bottom of the blog sidebar  Mystery & Inspirational Romance Author Joanne Troppello, hard at work on her next novel Want to Guest on my blog or do an interview?
Please feel free to contact me. I enjoy having guest bloggers and interviewing authors.  Here are Books I reviewed. Click the cover to read the review and find more info on the book.
  
 ArchivesMay 2012 CategoriesAll DISCLAIMER: Book Reviews In accordance with FTC Guidelines for blogging & endorsements, I want to post this disclaimer. From time to time, I do purchase and review some novels. However, most of the novels I review are given to me as a complimentary review copy by the author or publisher. I do not receive monetary compensation for the reviews I complete.  |
RSS Feed