"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it." - Hebrews 13:2



Monday, February 25, 2013

Like a Lion - or a Lamb...

March 11, 2013 - I'm still on a blog break this week. I've been working hard doing research & writing my latest WIP. It's going great! Have an awesome week!   ~ Loree  


Good Monday to you! 

I can't believe March is just around the corner. I have tulips and daffodils coming up! 

But...winter is still taking hold here in the Midwest. They've posted winter storm watches in our area for tomorrow. I'm wondering if at the end of the week, March will come in like a lion, or a lamb?!!?

I wanted to let you know that I will be taking a short BLOG BREAK for a week or so. I'm turning off the comments so I won't be tempted to blog...lol. 

I've found myself in a critical writing area in my latest WIP. I need to devote my time to the writing and research - can't have a saggy middle.

On a different note, I want to thank Sonya Weiss for guest posting last week. Sonya is a real gem, and I look forward to having her back again sometime. Thank you, Sonya!

Also, a big CONGRATS to the Danna family. The brother of my Seymour Agency sib, Jen Danna, won the Academy Award last night for Best Original Score. Mychael Danna won the Best Original Score Oscar for Life of Pi. Jen is a proud sister this morning! Congrats to you all!

One more side note, I hit 100 "Google" blogger friends last week. *throws confetti* Thank you Denise for bringing me into the triple digits! February 18th was the anniversary of my second year of blogging. I cherish ALL of my blog followers. Thank you for your love and support the past two years. 1 through 100 AND then some - you are all near and dear to my heart!


Upcoming in March:

Yes, I still have that Queen of the Quill blog award to give away. I have it down to 5 bloggers who I find totally inspiring and encouraging. Now I need to crop it down to just 2. 

Also look for an interview with Susan J. Reinhardt. Susan is represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary. Susan's debut novel, The Moses Conspiracy, will be coming out very soon. You can find her at: http://susanjreinhardt.blogspot.com

Between you, me and the gatepost,

Loree




Loree Huebner
Writing with one foot in the past...
On Twitter @LoreeHuebner
https://www.facebook.com/LoreeHuebnerAuthor






Monday, February 18, 2013

The Reason Behind Your Writing...


Hi everyone! This week I am so happy to welcome agency-mate, Sonya Weiss. I've gotten to know Sonya through our agency loop. She is funny, always encouraging, and just a delightful soul. I've invited her to do a guest post this week. So without anymore delay, please welcome, Sonya Weiss!

Hello everyone! Thanks Loree! I’ve always had a wacky sense of humor. Sometimes, my sense of humor can lead to some pretty embarrassing situations. Especially if you’re nearsighted.

I was at the grocery store and saw a friend of mine. She’d just sprayed a whiff of air freshener into the air. I came up behind her and did a fake coughing/gagging that was worthy of an Oscar. She turned around and I saw she was a stranger. Her lips puckered like she’d chewed on lemons since her birth. No matter how much I apologized, she wasn’t appeased.

My daughters thought the whole incident was hysterically funny.

That has absolutely nothing to do with what I want to share with you, but in case you needed a laugh, there it is.

What I want to share today involves the reason behind your writing. It’s so easy in this business to lose focus on why we’re actually writing. I started out writing for the sheer joy of telling a story.

Then I learned about ‘rules’. Oh. ‘K. I’m optimistic. I’ll learn the rules and keep on writing.

Then I learned about the money. Percentages. Rights to give up. Rights to keep.

Hmm…’K. Then, I needed to know about the business side. The creative side of my brain tried to rebel, but I roped it in and learned about the business side of writing. Queries. Synopsis. Editors. Agents.

Next, author platform, social media, street teams, beta readers and conferences charged forward ‘Learn about me! And me! And me!’

So I did over the years. Slowly, the focus of my writing changed and it was so subtle that I didn’t even notice it at first. But one day, there it was, staring me in the face.

The joy of writing was gone. It was now officially a job and…I was miserable.

I talked to an author who’d sold a manuscript to a well-known publishing company. She said she never expected to sell the novel and wrote it for herself-just to tell the story.

A light bulb went off and I realized I’d lost sight of the basic reason I felt called to write. Just to tell the story.

That’s the encouragement I want to leave with you today. When the struggles with your writing come (and they will!) remember to just tell the story.

Great advice, Sonya! It always begins and ends with the storytelling. Sometimes we get lost in all of the other stuff that comes with writing. Thanks for your wonderful post this week! It's been a real joy having you here, Sonya! 

Questions: Ever become overwhelmed social media? Ever lose sight of the writing goal? What keeps you and your writing grounded? Ever approach a friend, only to find out that it's a stranger who looked like your friend? haha...loved Sonya's story.

We would love to hear from you!

Sonya Weiss is a freelance writer and ghostwriter. She writes contemporary romance as well as young adult fiction. She loves God, chocolate and finding humor in all of life's situations. She is represented by Nicole Resciniti of The Seymour Agency. You can find out more about her: at http://sonyaweiss.com or follow her on Twitter @SonyaWeiss.

Between you, me and the gatepost,

Loree


In upcoming weeks look for - an interview with Susan J. Reinhardt. Susan is represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary. Susan's debut novel will be coming out very soon. You can find her at:  http://susanjreinhardt.blogspot.com 

and

I will be giving away the Queen of the Quill Award and gift to - 2 very special bloggers.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Love Songs...

Well, it's Valentine's Day week! I want to talk about loves songs today. Before I dive in, I want to bring you up to date...

All is going well with our chocolate experiment. Hubs and I have been eating one piece of "good" dark chocolate per day since the beginning of February. I believe it does elevate your mood. I've been having my piece with my afternoon tea. I found that I've been laughing more and generally feeling good. Except for my knee, I seem to have less everyday aches and pains, and even throw less stress in there. I'm going to continue with the chocolate experiment to the end of the month.

I also haven't picked two people to pass the Queen of the Quill award on to yet. I realized this morning that I hadn't done that. I really want to take the time to think about it. I'll feature that next week. I've been so busy pounding the keyboards, and typed THE END to my WIP this morning. It felt good! Now to pass it on to my critique partners and brace for revisions. 

And now...LOVE SONGS

One of the first things I do when I hear a new song is to listen to the words. There was a time (many, many moons ago) that I thought I would be a great lyricist. I have folders filled with love lyrics stuffed away in boxes. Writing a love song is like writing a one page synopsis of a romance novel. Most times the entire tale can be told in a short, yet meaningful, few verses. There can be sweet love, longing, sadness, pain, hurt, bliss, separation, sheer happiness and joy - in other words - heart wrenching and heart pounding words of love.

There are many love songs that are dear to my heart that come from all over the music spectrum - Rock, Country, Christian, Musicals, Movie Soundtracks, R & B, and so on. Far too many to list.

But, one of my all time favorites is from the movie, Titanic - My Heart Will Go On - written by Will Jennings/James Horner, and sung by one of the greatest love song singers ever - Celine Dion. It's a story of true eternal love. I still get chills when I hear the opening Irish sounding flutes...

If you haven't heard that song lately, take a listen below on the YouTube video posted at the bottom of this post. Yes, I got the chills again...

I know that Valentine's Day seems to be promoted more for the romantically linked hearts, but I believe Valentine's Day is for EVERYONE who has love in their heart. I wish EVERYONE a Happy Valentine's Day! Let your love radiate! 

What's your favorite love song? What love song has touched your heart?

Between you, me and the gatepost,

Loree


In up coming weeks look for a guest post by writer Sonia Weiss. Sonia is represented by Nicole Resciniti of The Seymour Agency. You can find out more about her at: http://sonyaweiss.com

and

An interview with Susan J. Reinhardt. Susan is represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary. Susan's debut novel will be coming out very soon. You can find her at:  http://susanjreinhardt.blogspot.com  




My Heart Will Go On
  

  


Every night in my dreams
I see you, I feel you, 
That is how I know you, go on

Far across the distance
And spaces between us
You have come to show you, go on

Near, far, wherever you are
I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door
And you're here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on

Love can touch us one time
And last for a lifetime
And never let go 'til we're gone

Love was when I loved you
One true time I hold to
In my life we'll always go on

Near, far, wherever you are
I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door
And you're here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on
(Mmhmm)

You're here, there's nothing I fear, 
And I know that my heart will go on
We'll stay forever this way
You are safe in my heart
And my heart will go on and on

Words and Music by Will Jennings and James Horner



Monday, February 4, 2013

CHOCOLATE...


With Valentine's Day just around the corner, this week I thought I would talk about...CHOCOLATE.

Before I do dive in, I wanted to mention that I was honored with the Queen of the Quill Blog Award by Victoria Lindstrom! Victoria is a pre-publishied writer of picture books, middle grade novels, and she's a published poet to boot! Her hubby is a gallery repped oil painter. Together they enjoy the arts as they proceed as partners on the path of  life. Ooooh, ROMANTIC! 

Do visit her website and blog : http://writofwhimsy.blogspot.com

By the way, Victoria designed the award. Isn't it awesome?






This award is given to a writer/blogger who possesses these three attributes:
1- The writer has been recognized for the excellence of her "quill" by being agent-represented and/or published.
2- She has reached out and generously encouraged others in blogosphere, while maintaining a quality blog.
3- The integrity of her character is of such a high level that her very life inspires others.

I am humbled! I love this award -  a sweet nod and a gift. Thank you, Victoria! I will be passing this award along to 2 other inspiring bloggers next week.

NOW ON WITH THE CHOCOLATE TALK!

In recent years, it has been reported that chocolate, in moderation, is beneficial to our health, especially the heart. They call chocolate the Love Drug. Cocoa is rich in anti-oxident polyphenols. Chocolate contains caffeine, keeping us alert with no fatigue. Chocolate also raises our serotonin, making us feel good.

I'm not an chocolate expert, but I love the stuff. It does make me happy. Hubby and I have started a chocolate experiment. We are eating a piece of good, dark chocolate a day up to Valentine's day. Hey, this is my kind of experiment! I'm going to see if it really does elevate my mood, and if it gives us the enhanced lovey dovey feeling. I'll let you know how it goes...

Do you believe chocolate is beneficial to your health?

Does eating chocolate change your mood? Make you happy?

What's your favorite chocolate?

Below - I found a few quotes on chocolate. Enjoy!

Between you, me and the gatepost,

Loree 



“There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate.” -  Linda Grayson

"There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate truffles." - Anonymous

"The 12-step chocoholics program: Never be more than 12 steps away from chocolate!" - Terry Moore

"Strength is the ability to break a Hershey bar into four pieces with your bare hands - and then eat just one of those pieces." - Judith Viorst

"I owe it all to little chocolate donuts." - John Belushi

"Make a list of important things to do today. At the top of your list, put "eat chocolate." Now, you'll get at least one thing done today." - Gina Hayes

"Nine out of ten people like chocolate. The tenth person always lies." - John Q. Tullius

"Chocolate is a perfect food, as wholesome as it is delicious, a beneficent restorer of exhausted power. It is the best friend of those engaged in literary pursuits." - Baron Justus von Liebig

"My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far today, I have finished 2 bags of M&M's and a chocolate cake. I feel better already." - Dave Barry

"There’s more to life than chocolate, but not right now." - Anonymous

"Chocolate remedies adversity." - Jareb Teague

"A little chocolate is like a love affair - an occasional sweet release that lightens the spirit. A lot of chocolate is like marriage - it seems so good at first but before you know it you've got chunky hips and a waddle-walk." - Linda Solegato

"I never met a chocolate I didn't like." - Deanna Troi, Star Trek: The Next Generation

"Other things are just food. But chocolate’s chocolate." - Patrick Skene Catling

"Chocolate is nature’s way of making up for Mondays." - Anonymous

"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt." - Charles M. Schulz

"Chocolate makes everyone smile-even bankers." - Benneville Strohecker, chocolatier

"God gave the angels wings, and he gave humans chocolate." - Anonymous

"Once in a while I say, 'Go for it' and I eat chocolate." - Claudia Schiffer

"Chocolate is a divine, celestial drink, the sweat of the stars, the vital seed, divine nectar, the drink of the gods, panacea and universal medicine." - Geronimo Piperni, quoted by Antonio Lavedán, Spanish army surgeon,1796

"What you see before you, my friend, is the result of a lifetime of chocolate." - Katherine Hepburn

"Love is like swallowing hot chocolate before it has cooled off. It takes you by surprise at first, but keeps you warm for a long time." - Anonymous

"Forget love ... I'd rather fall in chocolate!" - Anonymous

"It has been shown as proof positive that carefully prepared chocolate is as healthful a food as it is pleasant; that it is nourishing and easily digested... that it is above all helpful to people who must do a great deal of mental work." - Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

"Chocolate: Here today ... Gone today!" - Anonymous

"Life is like a box of chocolates ... You never know what you're gonna get." - Forrest Gump

“Caramels are only a fad. Chocolate is a permanent thing.” - Milton Snavely Hershey

“When we don't have the words chocolate can speak volumes.” - Joan Bauer

“Coffee and chocolate—the inventor of mocha should be sainted.” - Cherise Sinclair

“When life gives you lemons, throw them back and demand chocolate!” - Unknown