Back in the Saddle Again...

 I have officially finished writing my poem devotional, "Magnify God: 40-Days of Praise."  I do want to publish it at a later date, but have to save up to do so.  I have a personal goal to get it published sometime in 2024.

In my last post, I shared that I had plans to start another writing project.  After seven years, I am officially working to edit:

I finished the third draft of "The Shepherdess Princess" in January 2016, and that is the copy of the manuscript I am now editing with plans to publish sometime after I publish "Magnify God."  "The Shepherdess Princess" is a Christian Historical Romance set in Medieval England, Scotland, and France.

After a few weeks of taking a break between writing projects,  I have finished editing chapter 1 of 32.  The journey continues throughout the month of April...

News on the Writing Front...

 Hey, all!  I got an update for you.  I finished writing "Magnify God: 40 Days of Praise Poem Devotional" the beginning of February.  I am now editing it bit by bit.  I took a couple weeks off from doing anything with the manuscript because I wasn't feeling well.  Today, I started back at it again.  I am almost done editing and proofreading Section One of Eight.

Also, I have an idea for the next project I'm going to work on, but I don't want to share details about it yet.  However, I know people will be excited about it.  I'm just not sure if it's a writing project that I am ready to tackle, yet.

More details to come later...

Lulu Press is no more....

 I just found out a little bit ago that Lulu Press, the self-publisher I published my first two poetry books with, has gone defunct.  It is now listed as Lulu International.  It is still a self-publishing company, but the company I copyrighted my first two poetry books with is no more.  Which means, I will have to publish the books again in the future with a new copyright.  I have retired the books on my account dashboard, cancelled my Lulu account, and am in the process of deleting my Amazon Author's page.

It's a blessing in disguise because I was just thinking about releasing "Fateful Firsts: A Collection of Poetry" and "Second Thoughts: A Collection of Poetry" with another publisher in the future anyway.  The publisher I was looking into for my poetry devotional that is almost complete also publishes standalone poetry books.

However, I wanted to get out the poetry devotional I am working on first.  That takes priority for me!  I'll keep you updated on any new developments....

Approaching the finish line....

 I have been working off and on all year to write a poem devotional called "Magnify God: 40 days of Praise."  It started out originally being just a 30-day devotional idea, but changed my mind when I had more poems & scripture verses chosen for it, and ran out of days to put them on. 

 I didn't originally intend it to be a Lenten devotional either, but it's evolving into one.  For those who don't know, Lent is the forty-days before Easter Sunday that honors the forty days Jesus was being tempted in the wilderness.  People who practice Lent, usually fast for the forty days prior to Easter.

I'm not Jewish, but my church does practice it in some form.  My church congregation doesn't just not eat food for forty days, but may choose to not watch TV, go on Facebook, give up chocolate, or coffee instead of food during the forty day period.  The church also compiles, or gives out a daily devotional to read each day as a way to dig into the Word, and bring us closer to God.

Anyway, I have actually three devotional entries left to input into my manuscript, and seven left to write for a total of ten before I am done.

Maybe next year, "Magnify God" will be the Lenten devotional my church congregation chooses to read.

I have several projects on the back burner that I plan to work on next.  I just have to figure out what one that will be still.  One thing at a time, though!

A July break!

 So much has been going on in my personal life lately that I'm taking a little bit of a break this month with my writing.  Things are just starting to slow down, and I plan to get back to writing next week at the earliest (July 18th-22nd).

The last time I did work on my manuscript, this is that progress report:

In "Magnify God: A Poem of Praise Devotional," I added sections by category, a rough table of contents, and some scripture verses to introduce each section topic.  I still have a couple verses to find for the section topics then I will be adding devotional entries to each day.

There are a couple days that already have devotional entries, but I have a few additions to make before those days are completed that I will work on as I go a day at a time.

I also have an idea for the next book I want to work on after I am done editing "Magnify God."

I'm not even thinking about publishing right now because there is still a lot to do.

First post in almost two years!!!

 I have been keeping myself quite busy during the COVID craziness when it comes to writing.  I have been writing pretty regularly for almost nine months now on various writing projects.  I've only taken time off on the days I am not feeling well.

I have many Bible devotional novels in the works:

• "The Body of Christ and the Church" covers how we are to serve God, and explores our relationship with God as "one of many parts."  Also, it talks about spiritual gifts, and the different jobs in and out of the church that we use to glorify God daily.  How we are to treat each other as we "love one another."

          Progress: I have the verses typed up  I am going to use for it, and several devotional entries.  I am in the editing stages of this novel.  There is still quite a bit to be done.  It is over 21,000 words right now.

• "Magnify God: A Poem of Praise Devotional"  is a devotional filled with verses of praise.  I will interpret the Scriptures I use in poetry form to honor and glorify God.

            Progress: Originally, I had planned on making this book a 31-day devotional, but have since decided to turn it into a 40-day devotional.  I am actively working on this one, and have 4,500 words so far.   

I will share the rest of the devotional novels information as I go along.  Above are the ones that are closest to completion.

I would like to get them out into the world someday, but that is still quite a long way off.

Keep on trucking...

Slowly getting back in the groove!

It's been a rough couple of years, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  For the first time in what seems like ages I sat down to write today.  Mostly, it was just compiling notes I had for a new book I'm going to be writing.  Any books I work on now are just going to be for fun.   I just want to get my thoughts on a page because it's very soothing, and healing for me.

I have been avoiding working on the book I printed my notes up for today because it feels so erratic right now.  Basically, I've been typing or writing in a spiral notebook stuff that pops into my head as I think them.  Now, I want to get those tidbits sorted, and some sort of flow started.  I have a long road ahead still, but God will be with me through it all.

Another thing that has been driving me up the wall lately is I have a whole bunch of new story ideas that have presented themselves to me that I still need to flesh out.  I would rather be working on that then the project I am presently working on.  I am afraid if I stray from the book I am supposed to be working on, then I won't ever get back to it.  It is imperative  for me to finish what I started, though.