Bye bye, 2010. WELCOME 2011

Welcome 2011

Boy am I ready for it! 2010 was supposed to be the year I finally ran my half-marathon, finally lost the last 50lbs (gained 20), finally got on the best seller list again. LOL! Not so much.

But it hasn't been bad. I think at the beginning of 2010 when everyone was talking about change this and God is saying change that, I heard God saying, "Stay the course" for me personally, and so I once again went against the flow and stayed the course. I know I need to change. :) The above mentioned 20lb weight gain is evidence, but with Rusty gone in Kuwait all year and my daughter spreading her wings, my son getting his license, other son playing sports, other son embarking upon a career in fitness, I needed to stay steady in my own walk. There were too many changes in my world. And so as much as I love the comfort of status quo, I stayed home, wrote, read, cleaned house, cooked and tried very hard to just keep things together.

So CHANGE....I think this year is looking like it's gearing up to be a year of change. Rusty came home to no job. That's different. :) Financially, the book biz isn't doing so well for midlisters like me. So that's another change. I don't know where we'll be this time next year. But times they are a changing (thank you very much Bob Dylan) I better start swimming or I'll sink like a stone!!

Good things are coming this year. Another book under the pen name Tracey Cross: Love Finds you in Dodge City, Kansas. Fun historical romances. Another paranormal book coming from Waterbrook. A "ghost story" tentatively titled "Are You There?"

I've also deactivated my Facebook account for now. I have no control over my FB impulses, so my 1500 friends will have to do without my quippy updates about the kids, excessive whining, occasional inspiration and of course delicious cooking updates (which would have to go anyway if I'm to lose the 50lbs plus the new 20 :) ).

So I'll leave you here. Hoping to blog more regularly since Facebook updates have to go and I truly do need to be connected to readers.

God Bless you in 2011.

Happy Fall!!

So, Labor Day has come and gone. How's that for a rapid end to summer?? This morning I sat on my deck,  in the cool morning breeze and knew I'd be wrecked for work for at least two hours and I was. All I could do was fellowship with God and marvel at the changing seasons--literally and figuratively. God is such a God of seasons.

In this season of life, Rusty and I are looking at two college-age kids--one in college, the other pursuing a fitness certification and serving under his Youth pastor in preparation for future ministry, a third who is driving himself to school every day and holding down a part time job and a junior high boy hot and heavy into football. A big change for this mama. Our first three were all about God, music and drama!! Now we have a bruiser ready to smash some enemies! That's okay! He's probably going to be an intercessor!

My writing is blessed and I'm loving this season being hidden away with God. Writing what He gives me and serving where I'm to serve. I'm finding that it's okay to say "no" to projects, ministry opportunity, speaking engagements, even working in the church. There are seasons for everything. I'm content with where God has me.

I'm excited that Love Finds you in Deadwood, written under my pen name Tracey Cross, is selling really well! Look for it in Walmart and everywhere books are sold (how's that for an advertisement)

Tandem, my second vampire novel for the Christian market, is starting to go out for reviews and we're looking forward to an October release!

Time to get to work!
God Bless you as you live, move and have your being in Him

Fun new Release

I got a great surprise today... my author copies of Love Finds You in Deadwood arrived today. This is my first book under pen name Tracey Cross which I will be using for only historicals.  This book will be released August first. Here's a sneak peak:

Chapter One

It had simply never occurred to Jane Albright that Tom might be dead. Gracious, if she feared for his life each time he failed to arrive home in a reasonable amount of time, she’d spend every waking minute in an absolute state. After all, the trip to Deadwood took a month and that was only one way. With weather upsets, the swollen North Platte and breakdowns, she never expected to see him within three months of each departure.

 So although he was two weeks overdue, she’d hardly given his absence a thought until late last night when Hank came rolling in on the freight wagon with Tom in the back covered from head to toe with his bedroll.

Standing next to her husband’s grave, Jane barely found the grace to speak a Psalm over him. Even as she said a closing prayer, she found the words automatic and insincere and were it not for her son, Danny standing next to her, fidgeting like only a three year old could, she might have foregone the funeral altogether and just told Hank to bury him without paying final respects. But she couldn’t have her son remembering that she hadn’t given his pa a proper burial.

Hank Barnes, Tom’s partner stood respectfully by the grave that he’d tended to himself, his battered hat clutched in calloused hands that had worked much too hard for it to all end this way.

Jane’s amen brought his head up, and, as one, they turned away from the gravesite of the man who had caused such upheaval for them both, leaving them to salvage what they could of the ruins.

 “How long before the lender calls in the note?” Jane stared at the grizzled bullwhacker, trying to wrap her head around the fact that her husband had left them with nothing. Less than nothing, he’d left them in debt which was the worst thing he could have done.

Hank cleared his throat and stopped walking when they reached the doorway to the sod house. “Mr. Lloyd has been patient for too long already, Ma’am. He-um—it was due in full three months ago. He never made even one payment.”

A wave of nausea seized Jane’s stomach. Her mind refused to believe that there was nothing to be done. Mama Rose had always said, “Where there’s a will there’s a way.” That might have been the only thing the nasty woman had ever taught Jane, but the lesson had been well learned.

Jane squared her shoulders and tilted her head a little to look Hank in the eye. “We’ll just have to convince him that you and I are not of the same inclinations toward sloth and drink as Tom was. Any reasonable man will be willing to give us a bit more time to gather the payment. How long do you think it might take to catch up?”

Realizing she was doing all the talking and Hank wasn’t holding her gaze, Jane frowned, scrutinizing him. It couldn’t be a good sign that his boots shifted. The forty-year-old man was squirming worse than little three-year-old Danny when he was about to get into trouble. “What aren’t you telling me, Hank? Whatever it is, just come right out with it.”

Diets--bleh

So, this summer I've tried the HCG diet, Weight Watchers, Jillian Michael.com, and Nutrisystem.  I personally know people who have lost tons on each of these programs. WHY AM I SUCH A FAILURE?
I would love to be one of those people who can just agree that diets don't work...it's all about lifestyle change...blah, blah, blah. I get irritated when I post something about wanting to lose weight and someone says," eat less, exercise more."
UGH Okay, why didn't I think of that?
The fact is that I am an all or nothing kind of girl. I'm great to diet as long as I don't cheat. Cheating sends me in a downward spiral. It's hard for someone like me to change for very long. I know God expects my life to be disciplined and without excesses, so that's my goal. But boy I'm not sure how to go about making the changes.

I've been relaxing a lot this summer, trying to chill some. It's working. I'm noticing my mind is not as prone to wander. I can focus better. When I get stressed I can usually talk myself out of it pretty quick.
I've enjoyed working on easy stuff like proposals, page proofs, pretty much anything that makes me happy.
Still trying to iron out all the details of my website. I'm close to scrapping it altogether, it's so frustrating.

Rainy Days make me Smile

Some people love to sit by a window, listening to the call of birds, watching the sun shine onto a sparkling desk. It's how they process, how they work...
I, on the other hand, do my best work on dark, stormy rainy days. That's today. So off I go--back to work on the next chapter of a proposal that excites me.

Peace out

Sabbatical is just about over

Today I soaked up some sun, tonight I am RED. I know it's already June and everyone has been tanning for a month or two, but I let time get away. I have unlimited tanning with my gym membership and don't use either. But I do love to lay out in the sun. Not for long...about an hour. But gee whiz, I'm red.

Monday I start back on a four-hour-a-day writing schedule with a focus on finishing up two proposals by the end of next week. Next week I also start on the Nutrisystem program. I have put on 40 lbs this year after losing over 100 a few years ago with gastric bypass. GB works! I just don't.

I have a goal...not to use LOL in ANY posts, blog, email, or facebook. I'm seriously doubting my ability to succeed.

Memorial Day

Today is a little bittersweet. Rusty is in Kuwait for his second deployment--and we are honestly doing fine. Separation isn't easy, but it's part of the life we've chosen. He's hanging out in 100+ temps, working until 6:30 today while we prepare to BBQ tonight and watch We Were Soldiers. Can't beat a Mel Gibson movie for depth and emotion.

So, I miss my husband, but I'm proud he's serving our country. I'm glad he's safe in Kuwait, I'm glad we have Skype, email, instant message, and phone calls. This truly isn't your Grandmother's war.

Everyone enjoy what is left of your holiday. I appreciate those who have died, but don't forget to honor the living. Family, friends, Jesus.  Better to say thanks now than wait until our loved ones are gone.

Love lots
Tracey