Tag: Rubyville series

A Quick Thought, Writing

From Shabby to Chic

I had made a goal to post every Tuesday. As you can see, that did not happen this past week. Home renovation projects have kept me very busy. They are going well, but very slow. But at least they are moving along.

There is something about the holiday season that gets me motivated to set the house in order. Maybe it’s the cooler weather, maybe the fact that I like the house to look nice for the decorating. At any rate, it’s that push I need to get it done. Kitchen renovation - 11-04-2017 (2)

This is a picture from early November. The wall cabinets had finally been moved thanks to one of our son-in-laws. Thank you, David! Those cabinets were original to the house, and very heavy. So far, they have held a lot of dishes and are still hanging! New paint color in kitchen - 11-16-2017

This is after painting the color on the walls yesterday. The white parts are where more cabinets are to go and the back splash. I put  20 hinges on the cabinet doors on Tuesday. That made for 100 screws, by hand. I don’t use power tools if I can help it. They really rattle my arms and joints. That is usually where the sons-in-law and our son come in. I rely on them for a lot!

I know I drive my family crazy with the home projects. I really like doing them from the standpoint of taking something old and shabby and making it beautiful again. I just don’t have the desire to live in a home project anymore. I guess I’m at the age where I want it done, and I can just use the kitchen for what it was meant for. I’ll post more pictures when the kitchen is finished…hopefully that won’t be too long!

This week also produced more progress made on my next release…When Love Grows! That is always exciting. My editor is now in the last stages of formatting and making everything look really pretty. Here is a sneak preview…

When Love Grows Cover - 6.2 x 9.5 measurements

If you enjoyed When Hope Blooms, you will love the continuation of Sybil’s story. She could be compared to my kitchen project. Taking something rather shabby on the inside, and making it beautiful. You may purchase When Hope Blooms right here: https://www.amazon.com/Deborah-Ann-Dykeman/e/B01B2BYPK6/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1510855121&sr=1-2-ent 

If you are a Prime member, you can have the book by Monday. Books make wonderful Christmas presents as well. Be watching for When Love Grows on Amazon, very soon!

If you enjoy Women’s Christian Fiction, these stories are for you. I’ve had a lot of great feedback from them so far, and that’s wonderful to hear. People have loved the Rubyville series and getting to know the Barton women. Happy readers are very important to me! So make you, or someone you know very happy this holiday season by purchasing a Deborah Ann Dykeman book! I think you’ll be glad you did. Have a great Thursday!

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Our Christian Walk, Writing

Tuesday Teaser

We humans are a prideful lot. If our feelings are hurt, we can stew for days, simmering just like a pot on the stove. Pride can keep us from forgiving a wrong done. Sometimes, this can take us a lifetime to get over. And then it may be too late.

There is a reason we are told not to let our anger go past the setting sun. Forgiveness heals our soul, is a balm to past hurts and injustices. It takes away the bitter taste of ‘being right’. It only takes you.

Tuesday Teaser - A Place to Heal

social media, Writing

Big Smile!

Branding and marketing are huge if you have a business, want to sell items that you have made, or if you are an author. The list probably goes on for areas where you need to brand and market, but those are just three that came to my mind. Think of brand names that you know. Whether it’s the breakfast cereal you eat before you start your day, or the shoes you put on your feet. The symbols and colors that come to mind speak of that product, and you know exactly what it is. Drive down a strip of road located in a busy city, and your brain will be boggled with all the branding. You don’t even have to read the sign of a restaurant, or fully focus on it. You know what it is. The yellow arches beckon all of us if we are in a hurry for a quick, cold drink or salty order of fries. And you can see those yellow arches from blocks away, maybe even miles away on the interstate.

Branding and marketing take up a very large amount of my time when I’m not working. My author name of, Deborah Ann Dykeman is not known in my small town, much less around the state of Kansas. Forget about the rest of the world! But in order for me to be able to retire my husband before he’s using a walker, and move to the country, my name needs to be know everywhere. And that takes a long time! I want you to see and smell roses when my name is shown to you, and know that I’m an author, and hopefully know what I write about.

So, when someone contacts me and asks to read one of my books, and they will do a review on their site…wow! There is nothing better than that. Sure, at first I thought it would be a scam, but what do I have to lose at this point in my writing career? I always check out another site to see if it’s legitimate of course. It would be crazy in this world today to not do a bit of research before you jump in with both feet. When everything looks pretty good, I proceed.

And I’m so happy I did!

Pople Backyard Farm at http://poplebackyardfarm.blogspot.com contacted me a couple weeks ago, May 17th to be exact. They requested a copy of my fourth book in the Rubyville series, A Place in My Heart. I thought it strange that they requested the fourth book, but I was just so happy they requested it at all! That put a big smile on my face! They said they would do a review and have it posted within a couple of weeks. So of course I checked them out. And boy do they review products! It’s a great site, and you should really see what’s happening over there. They were true to their word. They read my book and posted a great review here, http://poplebackyardfarm.blogspot.com/p/best-reads-for-summer-2017.html for their summer reading reviews. You may have to scroll down to read my review, but I saw some books I would like to read on my way down the list!

Thank you, Pople Backyard Farm for requesting my book, for actually reading it and then writing a review! It is very much appreciated! And I love your site! I would wish you much success, but you seem to be doing really well already! 😉 But still…much success to you!

And remember to enter my giveaways over at Goodreads. This is for the third book in the Rubyville series, A Place to Heal, https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/231878-a-place-to-heal

This is the link for the fourth book, A Place in My Heart, https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/231879-a-place-in-my-heart

If you win one of the three, signed, printed books I’m giving away for each giveaway, I’ll have it in the mail to you within a day…really! And please, please, please write a review if you read my books. You can do this where they are sold online: Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, Walmart, Target and Amazon. Some of those require a purchase first, but Goodreads does not. Thank you all for your support and helping me on this writing journey! It really does put a big smile on my face! Have a great day!

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