Thoughts from a writing mom

Once upon a time, a 20-year-old female sailor was almost arrested for violating article 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.   What was she doing, you ask?   Well, she was conducting in a nature that would bring discredit to the Navy.   More specifically?   She was drinking under the age of 21.   Even more specifically?   She was drinking a bottle of Bud Light, with approximately 8-10 other young sailors, in a friend’s barracks room. This young girl knew she shouldn’t have been drinking underage.   But she wasn’t very bright, and was not thinking of the consequences of her actions if she were to be caught, so she did it anyway. That evening, a young male sailor on duty (he was a master-at-arms in the Navy, in other words-military police) was patrolling the barracks.   He’ll tell you now, if you ask him, that he was bored and looking for something to do. Well, he found something.   He found the aforementioned girl and her ...

Hello, January! Hello 2017! I don’t normally make New Year’s Resolutions, but I DO want to be better about seeing and acknowledging the things in my life I am grateful for.   I’m starting now with a blog post explaining the reasons why I am grateful for my publisher, eLectio Publishing.   (I know what you’re thinking – ‘you love them because they said yes to your manuscripts!’ – but actually, there is more . . . ) 1.          They’re faith-based.   As directly stated on their website ( www.electiopublishing.com ) they are “First and foremost a Christian publisher.”   Does this mean that they only accept manuscripts from Christian authors? No, it doesn’t! Does this mean that they only accept manuscripts that are Christian works? Again, no. It DOES mean that they are a Christian company that seeks to put God first and seeks to put out wholesome books.   You won’t find a garbage book from this publisher.   It’s refresh...

Allison Clark is a girl who is accustomed to getting what she wants.   An only child to two parents who give her everything, she drives the car she wants, goes to the college she wants, and even gets the pure-bred puppy she wants after she graduates from nursing school. What she doesn’t want is a jealous, controlling boyfriend – so when she finds herself in a relationship with one, she ends it.   She doesn’t need a relationship, she thinks.   She has a comfortable life without one.   Until she meets Jeremiah, the new guy in the apartment next to hers.   He’s perfect.   She can’t keep away from him.   The attraction between them is unlike anything Allison has experienced before, and in what feels like a whirlwind, the two of them are engaged to be married. Allison’s relationship with Jeremiah had the potential to be a fairy-tale.   But Allison, with her self-regard a little too high, doesn't quite realize the damage she is capable of when ...

Jeremiah is married to Allison, the main character in The Consequence. He is attractive in a subtle way – his sandy blond hair isn’t long, but is just long enough to peek out from underneath the ball cap he wears when he isn’t working.   He has a tiny dimple on one cheek – when he smiles, and the dimple is revealed, it’s impossible not to smile back at him. Before meeting Allison, he leaves his parents and three brothers behind in Minnesota for an accounting firm and the promise of more sun in Dallas, Texas.   He’s an accountant because he likes numbers, but what he loves is working with his hands, building, so he volunteers for Habitat for Humanity to satisfy that passion. He meets Allison after moving into the apartment next door to hers.   He sees her getting out of her car one day, wearing scrubs.   He can't help but take interest in this nurse who is literally the girl next door.   They marry, and have what he believes to be a good marriage. ...

Courtney is the best friend to Allison, the main character in The Consequence. She is a girl’s girl.   She has a bubbly personality, is a lot of fun and also (mostly) a responsible one.   She enjoys a good time, and enjoys a good party with her friends.   At the start of this story she dates casually, never being one to shy away from a cute guy but also never getting too serious with any of them, until of course she meets one guy that she just can’t seem to say good-bye to.   Courtney has a good heart, and believes that every person has good in them too.   She is sad and disappointed upon learning that there is infidelity in her best friend’s relationship.   She believes that the unfaithfulness needs to be brought into the light, rather than hidden. Of course, it isn’t her place to shine light on this secret.   Or is it?   Can she let it go?   Can she keep quiet, let Allison’s relationship be Allison’s relationship and stay ou...

Billy Stone tends to command the attention of any room he enters.  It isn’t intentional on his part, necessarily.  But he’s good-looking.  For one, the guy is fit.  He looks like a walking, talking cover of Men’s Health Magazine.  But that isn’t even the main thing.  The main thing is, he has these piercing, ice-blue eyes that contrast with his jet black hair in the best possible way. He could have any girl he wanted, and he did, for a while.  He played the game, dated around, avoiding serious relationships. Until Allison. Allison was different.  She wasn’t as insecure as the girls he normally dated.  She seemed sure of what she wanted, and though she wanted Billy, she surely didn’t need him. He began to need her.  And after he had her, he wanted her to himself, unwilling even to accept her friendships with other males. His jealousy got out of control, and ended their relationship.  But he couldn’t stay away for too ...

Hi loves, I know that this is a scary time for you all.  I saw your face this morning, my sweet firstborn, as the news anchor on the television told you that another police officer was killed and one is in the hospital today.  Forever I will remember the words you said the morning that you saw on the news that five Dallas police officers were killed.  You looked over at me and said, “Mommy, Daddy is a  police officer. I don’t want Daddy to die.”  I am sorry that I didn’t turn the news off sooner.  I am sorry you heard what they were saying.  The last thing I want is for you to be afraid. I need for you to know, first of all, how brave your Daddy is.  You already know, of course, how much he loves you.  You know him as the man who takes you to the playground and to catch fish at the creek.   The man who will jump with you into the pool.  The man who will make a bowl of popcorn, watch a Disney movie with you and sing ever...