Writing

Book Edits

I didn’t want to just disappear and come back to an empty blog. So for all of you that are so diligent about stopping by here, liking posts, and commenting…I will be gone for a few days. Please feel free to check out my other posts over the past year or so. And as always, I love to hear from you! It really does make my day!

No, I’m not going on a vacation, which I would dearly love. My daughter and I are editing the fourth book in the Rubyville series and we hope to have my part in it done by the end of the week. Then she and Julia Ryan, (the lady that has designed my absolutely gorgeous covers), will do their work of making it all look beautiful. It has been a real privilege to work with these two and I literally could not have done this past year without them! I think I have the easy part!

So, please don’t give up on me…I’ll be back!

Writing

Editing: an investment you can’t afford to skip

This post is wonderful! So of course I had to share it. It’s for all you writers and editors out there, especially those who are self-publishing. Take notes on this one!

You’ve heard it before but it bears repeating: it’s not a great idea to edit your own manuscript. Revise, yes—as much as possible. Polish that sucker up! But editing is a very dem…

Source: Editing: an investment you can’t afford to skip

Writing

The Top 50 Sites for Indie and Self-Published Authors

This post was very helpful to me, so I wanted to share it with you! Indie authors are coming into their own. As a self-published author, this list was very interesting. I have used Smashwords and CreateSpace. CreateSpace is a bit more user-friendly in my opinion. If you are thinking of publishing your own book, check out this list and read all that you can on the topic. I would highly recommend it!

Future Self

I stumbled across this fantastic resource and wanted to share with you. I’d love to hear any feedback.   # URL Category 1 KBoards – Writers’ Cafe ALL 2 The Newbie’s Gui…

Source: The Top 50 Sites for Indie and Self-Published Authors

Writing

Imagination

When I was younger…much younger, I loved to read. My favorite genre was biographies and autobiographies. I really enjoyed anything historical, and that is still one of my favorites. In high school, Victoria Holt became a favorite author. It always took a bit to get into one of her stories, but once you did the twists and turns took you on a wonderful journey.

I loved reading so much that I would rush through chores at home so I could find a cozy corner. To spend hours ensconced in a great tale was better than anything else in the world, in my young life. In teen years, I spent my lunch hours in the library reading. I could eat any time. But to have all those books at my disposal was more temptation than I could handle!

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For me, reading was better than a TV program or a movie. I could read and the story would unfold in my mind. The characters would show up vividly in spectacular color, their features, hair and clothing all of my creation with a little help from the author. Landscape and houses would all come under my direction as each scene paraded through.

When I first saw these pictures, I was so excited. They show just what a reader does in an artistic way. Kudos to the photographers and artists that thought of this and captured it so well.

Reading a great book, whatever the genre, takes you to scenes in your head. The story plays out in your mind until you reach the end. If the author has done their job, you are involved and part of that. And it is in vivid color.

As the first picture shows, the sky is the limit with your imagination. Shut off the TV, turn off your phone and find a great place to read. A green meadow, a rowboat on a pond, waves crashing at your feet, or a chair beside a crackling fire. All make wonderful havens for the story to unfold.

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Writing

The Rolling Hills

I love creating the Facebook memes I post a few times a month. Two Tuesdays a month I post something from one of my books. On Fridays I post something inspirational. Either a Bible verse or a few words to get people thinking. Few words can say much!

Today, I posted this. I absolutely love this picture! It just seemed to bring it all together. Even though the picture is of Ireland, it reminded me so much of the Flint Hills where we currently reside. There are many places around us where you can top a hill and have a view such as this one. In the spring time, or a wet summer like we’ve had, the hills roll along, green mounds under the very blue sky.

The words under the picture are from the first book in the Rubyville series, A Place to Call Home. And yes, Annabella Barton would have walked around the Flint Hills, dragging her beautiful gown through the bluestem pastures. Sometimes the rigors of the late 1880’s mandates for women didn’t sit well on her shoulders!

Since I love this picture so much…Rubyville - A Place to Call Home

Have a great Tuesday! Take a stroll through your neck of the woods. Watch the late summer wild flowers sway in the breeze. Listen to the rustle of the leaves of the trees, dark green filtering the sun. Lift your eyes to the blue sky, lazy clouds drifting overhead. Have a perfect late summer day!

Writing

This Life We Live

It seems that people that are creative are usually creative in many different areas. For example, if you play a musical instrument, you may also sing. If you can draw or paint, you probably have a good eye for photography or landscaping. Of course those are general observances. In my opinion, your brain just works along certain lines. That doesn’t mean that you aren’t able to appreciate music, art work or photography if you only sing in the shower, and color at the kindergarten level.

Sometimes it’s been hard for me to narrow down what I wanted to do with my life. When younger, I loved to draw and I loved art. I talked about this in another post. I also wanted to be a  ballerina, a famous singer, famous artist and maybe dabble in photography. As I grew older, modeling appealed to me and then an interior decorator seemed the way to go. At one point I even thought of being an architect.

So, I became a wife and mother! At times through the years, I thought of all those exciting careers and lifestyles I could have had. Of course I would have been extremely successful with all of them. Because in your dreams…you always are! That’s what’s fantastic about dreaming…you can make it whatever you want.

But you know what? Because I became a wife and mother I was able to do all of the above. I played the piano for church and sang in the choir. Our children and I had a singing group for awhile and we were asked to sing at several places. I’ve ‘designed’ and decorated so many of our homes over the years. Landscaping our yards was always fun. I’ve created an English garden at our current home…on a bleak Kansas driveway. I’ve had the privilege to attend several balls, wearing the gowns that I designed and made. My children have endured me singing to them at night, and dancing with them around the room. I’ve fulfilled all my dreams.

Have I been successful? Well the score is still out on that one. I have one more child at home and several grandchildren. And yes, they will have to endure all my interests. Someday, I will stand before my Heavenly Father and I hope to hear, “A job well-done, my good and faithful servant.”

Life isn’t about the career you choose or all the goals you set. You can have a career and have goals. But life is what you do along the way…the life you live. Have a Blessed Sunday!

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Writing

Saying Good Bye

My eyes are gritty, and I feel as though I haven’t slept in days. I went to bed very early last night, looking forward to a walk at the lake with my husband, our youngest and our second oldest’s dog, Buddy. This walk was suppose to take place at sunrise, when the air is in the upper seventies and a bit muggy. Rather than later when it’s in the nineties and unbearable to breathe.  And then I laid there for hours, conversations going through my head, reminding myself of things my characters needed to do.

Finally, I got up, at almost two in the morning and I wrote for two hours. The words came fast and furious…yes, just like the movie, and I accomplished much. My mind was purged of all those conversations. I went back to bed and laid there for another hour before falling into a deep sleep. The kind of sleep I look forward to and rarely achieve. So, no walk for us…or at least all of us. My husband and Buddy still took a stroll, so all was not lost.

Now, I’m out of sorts and trying to get back on track. I’m at 66,000 words on my last book in my Rubyville series…and I’m sad. These books are all around 64,000 words, so you can see I’m having a bit of a problem letting go. I’ve been with this family for a year and a half now. I’ve argued with them, cried with them, laughed at their faux pas and watched them all grow up and…die. It’s very similar to sending a child off to college, watching them get married, or saying good bye to someone you’ve loved your entire life. It hurts, and it makes you sad. If you don’t write, you will think I’m crazy. If you’ve read  a great, all-encompassing book…you know what I’m talking about.

So, off to write, through another emotionally exhausting day. Maybe today will be the day I finally say, “Good bye to Rubyville.”

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Writing

Newest Arrival in Rubyville

I don’t usually post in the evening…but I couldn’t wait to share the news. My newest book, the third in the Rubyville series is now available on Amazon! You may purchase it right here:https://www.amazon.com/Rubyville-Place-Deborah-Ann-Dykeman/dp/1533528810/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1469147741&sr=1-4&keywords=ru

All my books are available in paperback and kindle editions. Happy reading everyone! And as always…please leave a review. It is very much appreciated!

Writing

It Ain’t Just Talk: 3 Crucial Elements of Great Dialog

I’m sharing this great post on dialog for all you writers out there. Enjoy!

She’s baaaaack. Well, sort of. Today I have an extra special treat. This is going to sound super conceited but whatever, it is MY blog 😛 . But first lemme caveat with this. I feel I DO have …

Source: It Ain’t Just Talk: 3 Crucial Elements of Great Dialog

Writing

EC Quote Friday

I loved this quote! It is so very true and why I’m so very thankful for Julia Ryan! www.DesignByJulia.com She has done a fantastic job on my covers. So…you can eat a sandwich while you read my book! Have a great Saturday!

Reblogged on WordPress.com

Source: EC Quote Friday