Writing

Newest Arrival in Rubyville

deborahanndykeman

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!

Where do I go?

Always hold something back

deborahanndykeman

Some very good advice…and I often do it. It helps me get started the next day…and hopefully I haven’t forgotten too much of that ‘feeling’ for that scene!

ellieholmesauthor's avatar

You sit down to write having wilfully ignored the distractions around you: the distant ringing telephone (yours), the barking dog (your neighbour’s). You pay no heed to the bells and whistles of Social Media which continually beckon you away like a siren’s song. You make all that effort but when confronted by the computer screen and your work in progress you find you have nothing to say. We have all been there, haven’t we? It’s so frustrating particularly if you have limited writing time and need to make it count.

Frustration Frustration by Peter Alfred Hess courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons licensed by CC BY 2.0

https://flic.kr/p/5x3DF6  https://goo.gl/sZ7V7x

You can coax the creative engine into life but it can be a slow process like trying to get an old car started on a cold and frosty morning.

Give it a good pushjpg Give it a good push by Christopher Amrich courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons…

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Writing

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

deborahanndykeman

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

A Quick Thought

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

deborahanndykeman

I always told our children that they didn’t have to agree with me, but they needed to respect their parents. That you don’t have to agree with other people or even really like them, but you needed to show respect.

This is very lacking in our society today. I just saw it in action again yesterday. It used to be that even if you weren’t a Christian, you respected a pastor. Even if you disagreed with the President of the United States of America, you respected his position. If you disliked a teacher in school, you still respected them. Of course, there were and always will be exceptions, but generally this held true.

Other examples of respect: men taking off their hats in a public building or house, saluting the American flag, opening a door for someone, quiet when someone was talking, quiet in a movie theater, and proper attire for certain occasions. Examples of these would be funerals, weddings, church and your place of work or school.

Now it’s ‘anything goes’ attitude. I think that’s terrible. I also believe it has caused a lot of problems in our world today. It also shows a lack of knowledge, and usually an abundance of arrogance.

Come on, show a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T, and sing the song if it helps you remember. I’m sure Aretha Franklin would appreciate it! Have a great Monday!

park-972173__180What not to do!

Writing

EC Quote Friday

deborahanndykeman

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

A Day to Remember

Nostalgia…the word for today

deborahanndykeman
I always wondered how you could have nostalgia for something you never experienced. Here is the definition:
nos·tal·gia
näˈstaljə,nəˈstaljə/
noun
 1. a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations
The time periods and places I have a sentimental longing  or a wistful affection for in the past, are things that I have never experienced and I really don’t have a happy personal association with. And as I have posted before…I’m in the wrong time period…in my opinion!
I’ve always loved the Civil War decade in history. The plantations were beautiful and the clothing was extravagant and lovely. But that’s not how I would have been living. My ancestors were generally pretty poor and farmers on my father’s side of the family. Hardworking, yes, but not sitting on the veranda sipping a mint julep. They were sitting on the porch smoking a corn-cob pipe wearing hob-nail boots…and those were the females! No, I never experienced that, but I have nostalgia for that period in history.
The next decade or so was just after the second World War. My Rubyville series is living those years for parts of two books. The research for that has been exciting and I’ve learned so much! I think that after that war, America was filled with hope and a sense of accomplishment. Fathers went to work and mothers stayed home, raising the children, generally. Life was more simple and I think people were more content with their lot. And they enjoyed their little world.
No, I was not alive during these years following that war, but I had grandparents that were and I’ve spent a lot of time in assisted livings and nursing homes. I’ve loved hearing the stories. Life was not all a bed of roses, but I think there was a peace and contentment then that is lacking today.
When I was a teenager, I loved the fifties. I wore circle skirts and saddle shoes to school…a lot, and I listened to the music of that time period. I had nostalgia for the fifties, and I still do. I have SiriusXM in my car so I can listen to ’50’s on 5.
vintage-1950s-887272__180 Love this picture!
When I was a teenager, I wanted to have a red, 1957 Chevy Bel Air someday. A Ford Thunderbird that same year would have been fine as well. I would still love to dress that way…if it didn’t look so strange. Again, there was a sense of family and femininity that seems lacking today.
Maybe that’s why I enjoy writing so much. I can re-create these worlds that I missed out on. My characters can waltz in a ballgown, full skirts over hoops with tiny slippers upon their feet. They can dance the Lindy Hop to the Big Band music of so many great artists, their saddle shoes keeping time. My characters can ride around in great old cars…and for them, it’s today.

The 1960’s swept in, the decade I was born in. I didn’t care much for the styles during that decade and they seemed to just go down from there. Pretty much the same for the music. The cars lasted until the early 1970’s and then the last of the muscle cars were gone.

I’ve lived since 1964. I can appreciate some clothing, music and cars over my years here on this earth. But I have nostalgia for all those decades before.

Just For Fun!

Laugh

deborahanndykeman

Some days you just need to have a good laugh. Our second oldest shared these ‘kid snippets’ with us a few years ago, and I enjoy them. For the reason I’m watching them today, you can read my post on procrastination! 😉

These little videos are acted out by adults, but the original conversation is between children. I think it’s funny to view what children think of us and adult situations. Sometimes their take is probably as ridiculous as we sound. I’m going to share this one about Trick-or-Treating, but there are many to watch. It helped me brighten my day for a few minutes before I get down to work. Enjoy!

Our Christian Walk

Change YOU First

deborahanndykeman

Change can only begin within each one of us. Yes, I’ve seen and heard the depressing news once again. No, I don’t want to get too political and rant on here. Sometimes though, little thoughts just come out and have to be shared.

We all have a set of standards and rules for our lives, whatever they be. The most liberal person in the world still has ideas and values that he/she holds to. Each of us has opinions whether we choose to share them or not. Any one of us can make a change for the good or bad…and it’s completely our decision. Yes, we can be caught up in stuff that was not our making or our desire, but how we relate and interact with that is totally ours.

We have the ability to change. Change our thinking patterns, change our reactions, change our views and change our circumstances in life. We are not usually victims of anything or anyone other than ourselves. And by chance, if you are a true victim, you have the ability to deal with that in a positive way in your life. There are countless examples of people that have overcome substantial loss materially and physically in their lives. And they have survived to go on and succeed once more.

Change can only begin within each one of us. We can choose to live our lives and not be angry or depressed about what is happening all around us…from within our own families to our world. We can choose to love rather than hate, live being content rather than seeking revenge. This life isn’t about what color you are…we are all created equal. It’s not about seeking revenge…God will take care of that. It’s about accepting Him and applying His Truths to your life. If you apply love to others in your world and you are content in any situation as you deal with it as you need to…change will happen.

The world situation is not about what everyone else is doing. It’s about what you are doing.

Our Christian Walk

The Color of Heartbreak 

deborahanndykeman

Heartbreak knows no color Violence has no shame. Hate is only destroyed by perfect love. Perfect love casts out all fear. Justice belongs to He who saves.  “The Son of Man came to save t…

Source: The Color of Heartbreak 

Our Christian Walk

Home is…

deborahanndykeman

You may remember them from back in the day: the framed wall décor – crafted by needlepoint or cross stitch or calligraphy – proclaiming Home is Where the Heart is. The saying was usually flanked by tiny houses and hearts in a country blue setting. I may have made one or two of them myself. […]

via Where the Heart is — A Fierce Quest