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posted by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer
Create is the best word, besides wife and mom, in my vocabulary.
I love creating. I have an entire room –three rooms where I can create.
I have my hobby room where I quilt, make clothes, cards and sometimes scrapbook.
Sewing room |
And my office, where I put letters together, to form words, sentences, paragraphs, chapters and then books!
Writing office |
And then there is the kitchen. Not all creations coming from here are good!
Kitchen |
For more a2z visit Patty Wysong!
posted by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer
Over at pentalk today the challenge is to write about something you remember connected to weather.
Ed and I were talking about that yesterday as we dined on yummy sandwiches from Nora’s on Tamm Ave. They have amazing gluten free bread from Free Range Cookies.
As we were enjoying the cold blast of air coming from the ceiling we began to reminisce about the summers of our youth.
Neither the house or car had air-conditioning. On days like the one we have had the past few days where the temperature rises to 95 and higher my brother and I would soak wash clothes and plaster them to our bodies. Then we would stand in front of the fan. We never went to bed early. It was too hot. Instead it was late nights watching old movies with mom and eating popcorn. Sandwiches for dinner were always on the summer menu.
Going for a car ride meant windows down, even when we got out and left the car. Coming back and sitting on those seats brought yelps of pain.
The best part of cooling off had to be the sprinkler. Those delicious drops of cold water hitting hot skin was the afternoon treasure and sometimes a bucket of water over the head occurred.
After we were cooled, inside we went refreshed, we’d lay on top of blankets on the floor. The fan pushing air over us as our mom read to us.
posted by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer
It’s a2z blog challenge again. I wasn’t sure what to choose for the letter B. Then I asked my husband, he said, “Buckheit, I need to go there.”
Why not? Who doesn’t love a farm store on Memorial Day? So off we went to Sparta, Illinois.
When you walk in you can smell the sweetness of the feed. I’m partial to Nutrena, it reminds me of when we had horses.
You can find feed for every kind of animal at this store.
Or maybe you need work boots. They have those too.
Along with bridles.
How about a buss?
Brushes?
I love farm stores, they have everything from tiny bolts, bathtubs and even Mr. Bill.
For more a2z start at Patty Wysong’s blog.
It’s my turn today to host Author Julie Carobini and her new book, Fade to Blue.
Julie, will you tell us a little about yourself and your background?
Sure! I write seaside stories filled with faith, flip flops, and waves of grace. My family and I make our home on California’s central coast, and I’ve written five novels plus hundreds of published articles on everything from parenting, to team building in the workplace, to Christian surf dudes on a mission.
How did you become interested in writing?
My father wrote magazine articles on the side, including interviews with entertainers such as Fred Astaire and Fred MacMurray. Always loved that! I too became an article writer almost twenty years ago, but I always yearned to create fiction. I wrote two novels that did not sell, but as they say, third time’s a charm, and my debut novel, Chocolate Beach, released in 2007 (re-released with recipes in 2011 as an eBook). By that time, I had a renewed faith in God as well as a redefined focus on the kinds of stories he was leading me to write.
What compelled you to write a book on this subject?
Ever since the inception of the Otter Bay Novels with Sweet Waters, I’ve wanted to set a book with the famed Hearst Castle as its backdrop. So much intrigue and mystery about that real castle on the hill and its eccentric, yet astute owner. Of course, novels are more than their location. So after writing the 2nd of these stand-alone novels, A Shore Thing, even I longed to know what happened next for the big-hearted, single mom from that story. Fade to Blue satisfies that curiosity …
What is the main theme or point that you want readers to understand from reading your book? Are there any other themes present in the book?
Writing this story was much like holding a seashell, constantly turning it over in my hand. Though they’re often tossed into the sea with nary a glance, seashells are intricately beautiful—even when broken. The more I examined the shattered life of Suz—the heroine of Fade to Blue—the more beauty I found. Only the One who restores our souls can make that happen.
Are there some specific lessons you hope readers will learn and apply to their lives after reading your book?
I hope readers get lost in the story and the beautiful setting, that they revel in God’s creation as much as I did while writing it. I also hope they experience the Good Shepherd’s gentle leading (Psalm 23), and fall in the love with the concepts of forgiveness, sacrifice, and grace—as much as they do the breathtaking locale.
What makes your book different than any other books similar to yours that are in circulation today?
Although I’ve been compared to some amazing writers—something that humbles me—I also know that God made each one of us uniquely. I knew you even before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5. One unique aspect of my books is the focus on God’s creation of the sea and everything in it. My characters have loved dolphins, sea lions, otters—even giant, glowing sea anemones. But they take that admiration a step further by drawing closer to the God who made such beauty.
How does the book intertwine with God’s call on your life and how you are currently serving Him?
This story reminds me not to dwell on the past, but to prayerfully, joyfully—and ‘hope’fully—move forward. Such lessons there! Suz Mitchell made mistakes in her past—so have I—yet healing brokenness and restoring souls is God’s business. Praise him for that!
Do you have a favorite Scripture verse?
I have more than one favorite, but this one’s been spinning in my mind again lately: Psalm 19:14 NIV, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
When you are not writing, what do you like to do? Do you have any hobbies?
I love to comb the beach, to jog the sand with Charlie the Dog, and take coffee breaks with my husband—so adore that man!
As we close, is there anything else you would like to add?
Just that I hope people reading this are encouraged to follow their heart’s desires with the Good Shepherd as their guide. God took all the lows and highs in my life and created something new with them. Although I’d always wanted to write, I had no inkling that I’d be writing beach- themed novels one day. I just kept praying and writing and seeking until an idea popped into my head. I followed that idea, and now find myself talking about my fifth novel filled with ‘waves of grace.’ Be encouraged!
posted by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer
Strawberry Festival “I see jam!” |
More Wordless Wednesday at 5 minutes for mom.
posted by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer
Patty Wysong gets all the credit for this brilliant idea. You can follow along and play as well. It’s easy one subject a week that starts with that weeks letter. You can find the details here.
This weeks letter is “A”.
Sure it will be easy. Or will it?
Accessories!
I have a favorite, well more than one but one is the most important to me.
I love scarves, it’s an excuse to have sparkles and color swirl about me and this year it’s ‘okay’ ‘they say’ to wear them with my t-shirts!
Scarves |
Can we talk shoes? How do you pick a favorite of those? I have a lot of cute but painful ones that I thought would be my favorites. Turns out most of the time I grab my sketchers. Comfy rocks my walks.
Jewelry anyone? Bangles are hot right now, I have those too and most of them sparkle.
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Bangles |
Headbands–only a fan of them when the waves on my head won’t play fair.
Purses love those as well. I have a yummy pinkish orange one I scored at the local resale store. I’m just waiting for the right outfit to wear it with.
Beijo! |
My favorite is the accessory that takes me out, sits by me in church, and holds my hand. My husband.
Diana with her favorite accessory–Ed |
What’s your favorite accessory this year?
posted by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer
My friend told me this story and with her permission I get to share it with you.
The DAY Adrienne died (a Friday), she was in Ceramics class with this kid, a friend of hers, and asked him when he was going to do a full-figure sculpture because he had yet to do one.
Those were her last words to him.
He found out the following Monday that she had passed away, so he knew he had to do that piece in her honor.
He went to his professors and told them what he wanted to do, and they sort of laughed at him, told him it could only be done in a reasonable amount of time in clay. He said no way, Adrienne was worth marble.
They told him it would take at least a year.
The kid scouted out a few marble sculptors and mentors across St. Louis and outside of the area and took private lessons. He had never worked with marble before or even done full-figure sculpting. He sacrificed sleep and put it all into his art, much like Adrienne, he said.
He finished the piece in eight weeks. He wrote some incredible things about her and the way she lived her life and dedicated it to her art, to her friends and family, and to Johnny (her beloved). He talked more about his own work put into the sculpture, and then he made an amazing dedication to Adrienne, telling her again that she was the best art student in the program and that she was worth marble… and telling her to rest. It was a tremendously moving story. And the president of the school purchased the piece in Adrienne’s memory.
posted by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer
posted by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer