A Quick Thought, Writing

Home Project Revisited

It’s September 3rd, and after reading this post from a few years ago, I realized I’m still working on another kitchen project. The current one is coming right along. But not picture worthy as of this writing.

In the post, I included pictures of the kitchen at the time. I loved it! The butter yellow of the cabinets, and especially the kitchen door looking out on my little pond. The goldfish lived for several years in that pond! I miss it still. I enjoyed reading about those days, and the memories brought to mind.

Today, here in Missouri, I decorated for autumn. Thank you to our oldest for moving every unpacked tote to try and locate my door wreaths. They’ll turn up…in January! But the fireplace looks warm and cozy, and the room smells delicious. Cinnamon and cloves with a bit of warm apple tossed in. I’ll try not to think about it being 98 degrees out right now! Cooler weather will come; it always does.

A huge thank you to those that have entered to win the 3rd book in the Love Defined series, Sweet Forbearance. You have until September 30th to enter. Lots of time for you to read #1, Sweet Hope, and #2, Sweet Belief before the end of the month. And as always, let me know what you thought!

A Quick Thought, social media, Writing

More free books!

Good morning!

I had a great turn out for the first book in the Love Defined series! I hope many of you are now reading Sweet Hope and getting to know the Atkins family.

Because today, you may now get your FREE e-book for the second book in the series, Sweet Belief. Katie is a special girl and has her own way of doing things.

And if you are on Goodreads, you may now sign up for your free copy of the third book in the series, Sweet Forbearance. This will run for 30 days, and I’m giving away 100 e-book copies. These will be available at the end of the 30 days. So, you have plenty of time to get started on the series!

All three books for free! Please share, and most of all, please read and review. Reviews mean so much to writers. It helps us connect to our readers, and that’s my favorite part of this journey.

Have a great day and…read!

A Quick Thought, social media

Free Books!

Good morning!

Cooler temperatures than we’ve had, but still very humid. I’m anxiously waiting for those crisp autumn days. You know the ones I’m talking about. A whiff of cool air, minus the wet blanket. Leaves drifting to the ground with a breeze, and if you’re really lucky a hint of smoke from a fireplace.

While you pine for sweater days, I have three giveaways for you!

Yes, three!

And what’s even better?

They are free!

I don’t know if that’s great marketing. I could be crazy! I know my children and grandchildren would agree.

I’m so excited to be on this next journey of life! I’m thrilled to be back in my writing chair after moving to another state, and all that entails. (You’ve all been there. I’ll write about all the gruesome details later.) To jumpstart my enthusiasm and to get this long-awaited series into my reader’s hands, I’m making it as easy as possible for you. I want you to become acquainted and fall in love with this family as you read Elisabeth and Jonathan’s story in Sweet Hope, book one. And then continue on with Katie and Mike’s story in Sweet Belief, book two. These first two books in the series are available here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Deborah-Ann-Dykeman/author/B01B2BYPK6?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1787674527&sr=1-1&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=bc67f6ac-f1c4-4eda-98f2-2bf775f18946

Book one, Sweet Hope will be available for a free e-book beginning August 26th and will be available for five days. Book two, Sweet Belief will be available for a free e-book beginning September 1st and will be available for five days as well.

Free Book PromotionBook #1 – Sweet HopeWednesday, August 26, 2026, 12:00 AM PDTSunday, August 30, 2026, 11:59 PM PDT
Free Book PromotionBook #2 – Sweet BeliefTuesday, September 1, 2026, 12:00 AM PDTSaturday, September 5, 2026, 11:59 PM PDT

That gives you lots of time to read and be all set to continue with the third book featuring Anna and Brad in Sweet Forbearance, just released in April of this year. You can get this book right here in a Goodreads book giveaway.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Sweet Forbearance by Deborah Ann Dykeman

Sweet Forbearance

by Deborah Ann Dykeman

Released April 10 2026

This giveaway has not started.
Starts in 7 days.

giveaway details »Enter Giveaway

The fourth and final book in the series, Sweet Endurance, featuring Chris and Doreen is in edits now. Stay tuned! I’m shooting for a release by the end of the year.

I’m so excited!

A Quick Thought

Hello, it’s Me…

Before the age of caller identification, (caller ID for those that are challenged by the longer use of term), my mother would greet me with those words when she called. I have a dear friend that always laughs when I call her and begin with the same. For us it brings to mind a certain song from a certain age, and the call begins with a chuckle.

It’s me, dear friends and readers. I feel as though I’m climbing from a very dark well, the sunshine casting brilliant rays sparkled with gold. It beckons me, encouraging me to climb higher, even though my feet keep slipping, and my hands find it difficult to secure a rock rather than crumbling dirt. The sunshine reminds me of the verse I think of each morning, Psalm 118:24. This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

I haven’t written here on my site for a couple years now. With the unexpected passing of my father on June 8, 2024, and then a long year of house renovations and then listing my father’s house for sale, I’ve been missing in the writing world. Those two life changes were the big ones, intermingled with the daily and sometimes hourly challenges of being a mother to five grown children, that have a life of their own? (Yes, the question mark is there for a reason. A reason most mothers will understand.) I dearly love my five children, and nine grandchildren. I love that generally we are a close family. But as with anything that is of value, or you have invested time into, it’s exhausting every now and then. Challenges, trials, and crisis never seem to come at a convenient time. And rarely seem to give space and energy to each one. But arrive in a mass, giving you little time to breathe much less think. Thus, it’s been in my life the past few years.

After almost a year since we first began seeking a realtor to list my father’s house in Topeka, Kansas, we have relocated to Missouri. This was a move we thought about and prayed about for over fifteen years. Mostly me, thinking and praying. Researching the area, looking up houses, comparing prices. I never do anything without lots of research and price comparison. Much to my husband’s distress if out shopping with me. Kind of a pain to anyone shopping with me! We now have a work-in-progress, adorable house. Winter lake views we are pretty sure of, since we kind see bits of it right now with the oak trees competing for attention. We have a gorgeous stone fireplace that we were told shouldn’t be used by the chimney professional. But we have options for that. I do love old houses, but they come with their faults. The biggest plus to our new space is that it’s much smaller than my father’s house. The biggest negative to our new space is the same.

My plan is to write on here on a regular basis. Dabbling my feet in it, getting to know all of you once again. My goal is to begin another book. I was able to publish two more books during the last two years. But marketing them has not happened. I’m excited to reach the top of the well. To jump out, land on my own two feet, and run down that new road that’s just waiting for me to experience.

Photo by Laurel Segel on Pexels.com

I think there are great things ahead…and I would love for you to explore them with me! Until next time!

A Quick Thought, Writing

Welcome Spring!

Here in Kansas, today is a hot one! I do miss the long, slow progression of spring and autumn in the northeast. But here in Kansas, we don’t seem to have the mud problem either that I remember so well when my parents had their horses. I lost a shoe or two more than once slogging through mud in upstate New York!

The daffodils have bloomed at our house. The peonies I moved last year seem to be doing well so far. They came up anyway! Now I’ll be looking for blossoms. I had wanted to move the daffodils last fall, but plantar fasciitis slowed my autumn prep to a standstill. Maybe I’ll get it done before the end of May.

Writing books and designing covers has been my focus since the beginning of the new year. I designed six covers, and I wrote a new book…about 85,000 words between the first of February and yesterday when I finished going through the edits needed on the second part of 56,000 words. I wrote that second part in three weeks. For those of you that write, you know that is an accomplishment! The first three months of a new year have always been a great time for me to get writing done. Motivated, not a lot of outside work, and between spring and fall cleaning schedules. This year was extremely successful. That puts a smile on my face!

Last September also saw the release of the second book in my Love Defined series…Sweet Belief.

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Of course this is available right here: https://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Belief-Mike-Katie-Defined/dp/B0CJSQFWBV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2FFQYNYPU3ZRD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Z57xZ9EpuoKA-Cv3YKBaWg.2iWTLGur7eQqvHNvKTDDK5teixJjjg0-CAeXcrvRMJ0&dib_tag=se&keywords=deborah+ann+dykeman+sweet+belief&qid=1713117547&s=books&sprefix=deborah+ann+dykeman+sweet+belief%2Cstripbooks%2C161&sr=1-1

If you live in Texas, the view out your window today may look very much like the backdrop of the cover for Sweet Belief.

Happy spring to all! Enjoy the sunshine, the bright flowers, and new buds on the trees. And if you are in the mood to read, you know where to find a good book. 😉

A Day to Remember, A Quick Thought

Merry Christmas Eve!

If you are in the United States, it’s safe to say that you are probably experiencing some severe weather of some sort. It’s been a crazy weather week! Here in Kansas, we will be having a white Christmas for the first time in many years. I know I’m excited about that! I rather like that Norman Rockwell feeling I get when the holiday season is filled with wintry weather…snow-covered grounds, with cinnamon and pine filling your senses beside a crackling fire.

Stay safe everyone as you get ready for “the most wonderful time of the year!”

A Quick Thought, Just For Fun!

In Miniature

All my life I have absolutely loved miniature anything. If it came packaged smaller, I was a huge fan. This included miniature horses, baby mice, fairy gardens, and of course doll houses. They make me smile!

When our youngest daughter showed me this site when it first began, I was just enthralled. I wondered…why? But I have spent way more time than I should watching these little cooking shows, and feeling my hands cramp.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSI836Zu-vE

I included the one above because it is a tiny gingerbread house. At one time I made these every Christmas, and it fascinated me to watch this itsy-bitsy construction.

Photo by JillWellingon – Pixabay

Many years ago a friend shared using graham crackers for the construction instead of the gingerbread, and it really changed it for me. It was much less prep work, and easier to assemble. But a true gingerbread house…no. If I made one this year for Christmas, I would use the graham crackers. By the time you have it decorated, who sees the siding anyway? 😉

But, back to this post.

I love miniature items, and my favorite are mice. I don’t know why I feel an affinity to mice, but I do. No, I do not want them in my house, and if I saw one I would probably scream and jump on something to get me away from their scurrying little body. But when they look like this…they are adorable.

Photo by Marigard – Pixabay

Or this…

Image by Please Don’t sell My Artwork AS IS from Pixabay

I know, some may argue that mice wearing clothes isn’t really done, but they are adorable.

When a friend shared this on Facebook, I knew I had to include it in a post. It is miniature, and there are tiny rabbits living in a cute little house, they are wearing clothes, and there is music. And the tiny mice are ice-skating. It just doesn’t get any better for me!

As you prepare for Christmas this year. Take a moment to watch this video. It will put a smile on your face.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9AU0gUGum

A Quick Thought

A Merry Little Christmas

The Christmas Day countdown began the first of December for me, but I know a few of you started way back in October! I still cherish Thanksgiving Day having its own little celebration…a wrapping up of autumn and all the golden glory of the days.

The Petersen family featured in this video came to our church several times over the years. Back when they were still in high school, the youngest in grade school if I remember correctly. It’s been fun to watch them grow up, and now have such an amazing following all over the world! They are an extremely talented group of musicians and singers. The young man playing the dobro also came to our church with his family many years ago. The Franz Family was also a joy to watch.

Enjoy this arrangement by Emmett Franz. I did!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OJp9yVaZiE

Photo by Pamjpat on Pixabay