Author: Diana Brandmeyer

Christian author Diana Lesire Brandmeyer writes historical and contemporary romances set from the Midwest to the Mountains. She’s written Mind of Her Own, Frontier Legacy Brides, Small Town Brides, and A Time for Love, among others. Once widowed and now remarried she writes with humor and experience on the difficulty of joining two families be it fictional or real life. *affiliate links are used on this site. It won't cost you more but those extra pennies keep me stocked in tea, thank you!

July 3, 2006

Posted on by Diana Brandmeyer

So I’ve revamped my blog and I like the way it looks but…
I can’t get my images to click to a link to read more about them! I’ve only managed to find a way to get the image covers on the page. So if you want to read more maybe even decide you can’t live without them? My home page address is www.dianabrandmeyer.com. Later I’ll try and add direct links to order. By the time I figure it out I’m sure I’ll be classified as a danger to myself. 🙂 HTML is my friend, right?

Last night we went to my mom’s for dinner and fireworks. She lives in the country and has an awesome place to have a fireworks display. My kids took full advantage of the grandparent’s place. They brought along fountains and Roman candles. There were a lot of oohs and ahs said and even the bullfrog voiced his approval.  We also had sparklers. Love those things! I always get burned but the desire for bright colored sparks out ways the momentary twinges on my arms.

July 1

Posted on by Diana Brandmeyer

This might be the answer to keeping up with my blog! Yay! I found this cool add on program for firefox that helps me post.
It’s hot here! Our backyard pool is still green so we won’t be swimming this weekend. We bought the pool when our boys were younger and they enjoyed it. But now almost everyone is living somewhere else, except the youngest who is only home during prime swimming time. He doesn’t seem to be around when it’s time to work on the pool. Odd isn’t it? Love you Josh.

Still no buyers for our ‘tuition’ house. I’m hoping after the fourth of July, people will be more interested in finding a new home. Or maybe I’ll reconsider selling our home and moving into that one. At least everything is updated and clean there! I’m working on cleaning this one now. It’s amazing how fast things can get out of control when you’re tired.

On writing:
I’m using writer’s blocks 3 and Karen Wiesner’s book First Draft to get my next book ready. I’m on day two. 🙂 I’m also getting another proposal ready to send out so my time is filling up fast. I thought I would have lots of free time now that I’ve finished most of my hard labor on the tuition house. 🙂 Lesson learned: there will always be work to fill up the empty time IF you are willing to do it.

For Sale

Posted on by Diana Brandmeyer

Maybe I should say the end of June! I can’t believe I haven’t blogged since Christmas. How is that possible? Oh that’s right LIFE. The good thing is the house we have been working on is now up for sale. We still have things to do but we’re hoping soon someone else will be willing to take over the small things every house seems to need. Here are a few pictures of the remodeling.

Living room with all the old green paint removed from the bookcases, mantel and stained glass windows. The carpet is gone and the floors polished. It took my friend and I two days with a razor knife scraping off the old gunk!

French doors
Kitchen
upstairs bath-This room was the last one we did. I’m very glad to be finished with grouting.

On writing: I’m starting a new project. Too new for me to talk about it except to say it will be more mystery than romance oriented.

I’m still waiting to hear from a few other publishers on my book about blended families.

I’ve recently taken up scrapbooking. It’s great fun and I like using the computer to digiscrap as well as paper scrap. Both kinds are lots of fun.

Snowflakes

Posted on by Diana Brandmeyer

Snowflakes! What a wonderful gift to find in the morning sky! I love snow this time of year. After Christmas I don’t want to see it for a long time. But that’s another post. Today I’m happy and singing Christmas carols. Yes, CHRISTmas carols, not holiday songs.

I’m saddened by news my son told me yesterday. Boston has decided their Capitol Christmas tree must be called a Holiday Tree. The city now has Holiday Tree Lots.
I guess that will work out just fine if they want to leave the tree up for the rest of the year, think of the money it could save in decorations. It could work for Valentines Day, Easter, Fourth of July, all they would have to do is change the color of the lights.

Well, this family will never have a holiday tree. Our house will serve the Lord and we will proudly display our Christmas tree to celebrate the birth of our Savior.

Graduation

Posted on by Diana Brandmeyer

Why I haven’t started on the next 30 days.

Apr13^03
Graduation. This is Josh. He graduated May 21. He’ll be leaving in August for Concordia River Forest to begin as a freshman in Presem/Business. In eight years he’ll be a pastor.
Ed and I bought a house to rehab and sell. We’re hoping to make enough to pay tuition! Instead of writing I’ve been stripping paint and tearing out carpet.

But…I have to get back to work. I’m thinking of stretching my 30 days into three months. 🙂 I think it will still take 30 actual days to do the work. I guess my goal is to have the first draft finished by September 1. That will give me time to work on the house and get Josh off to school.

April 30

Posted on by Diana Brandmeyer

D-day, deadline day did I make it? YES! I actually finished the rewrite and emailed it my agent yesterday. Now the wait begins. I’m taking a week off to do things I’ve let go, like cleaning and grocery shopping, and then I’m going to start drafting my next book.

Writing plans

Posted on by Diana Brandmeyer

I’m still using Karen’s book First Draft in 30 Days and I’m actually ahead! Not by much but one day ahead! Thanks Karen. One thing having a calendar has done for me is give me more time. That sounds odd but I would spend the entire day at my computer working or thinking about it or emailing friends. In my heart I felt I couldn’t leave because there was still writing to be done. Having a calendar gives me a goal to reach each day and when it’s reached Yahoo! I can run to my sewing room and quilt. Or maybe since it’s warm outdoors I’ll take my book to the front porch and snuggle in my swing while I read. My husband’s glad as well because now I seem to have time to catch one or two shows on the food channel a week which means new meals for him to try.

Reverence for God adds hours to each day. Proverbs 10:27
So by respecting the gift God has given me to use I plan how to accomplish the tasks for the day. Then I’m rewarded by the blessing of time. Thanks God!
Diana

Friends and rewrites

Posted on by Diana Brandmeyer

How does any writer get through this process without close friends? If it weren’t for the friends I’ve found through ACFW ( www.americanchristianfictionwriters.com ) I would be buried in wet tissues. My critique group has helped me with major problems and minor ones. Each one of them has brought me something unique to add to my story. Today I emailed a Heartsong author for help with a chapter by chapter synopsis and within minutes she sent me a copy of one of hers. I was on the right track but not sure. Thanks to her I can proceed with less anxiety.

I’m editing scene 31 today. I’m over half way now.