Have you ever been tossed to the ground by a horse?
We had a horse named Lady who was a bit strong-willed. She seemed to sense my ‘beginner’ nerves and made use of that information. While going down hill she lowered her head and off I went. I can’t explain how it happened only that I didn’t want to get back on her back.
But I had to. You can’t let a horse win or you’ll go flying off that saddle every time.
The day I took that tumble I didn’t expect it to become a blog post someday or even a life lesson. Probably because the day I took the fall I was 17 and knew everything.
Since that day life has thrown me from the saddle many times. Sometimes it’s not hard to get back on because it wasn’t a big fall and the horse didn’t run off so I had to catch it. Maybe that’s the day the gluten free meal I made turned out like paste. ( Oh yeah, that was another drop in my life I hadn’t expected no more regular people bread!)
Or maybe that fall is harder like losing your husband at 32.
That was a flattening fall. It took months to even to look up. Then despite my fear of being thrown again, I remarried.
So far so good–I haven’t killed him with my gluten free cooking yet.
There is another kind of fall that I experience. After I finish a crocheting a scarf, making a quilt or writing a book it takes awhile to try another one. I have a new book coming out in May. A Bride’s Dilemma in Friendship, Tennessee. I know those characters so well that I keep thinking about them. It’s hard to take my attention away from Heaven and Travis and turn it onto new characters.
But like falling off the horse, I must get back on or in this case back in my writer’s chair and make friends with those unwilling characters who only want to look pretty–much like Lady who only wanted to be in the pasture.
So many things require us to get back up and start anew. What’s the hardest project you’ve had to restart?
The Pioneer Woman and Kait Nolan both have yummy looking bacon cheddar biscuit recipes. I wanted to try my own version but to be fair I started with their recipe and ended up with something different.
Cheesy Biscuits Gluten Free
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Prepare a cookie sheet by lining with parchment paper.
What you need: 1 3/4 cup gluten free flour ( I use Jules flour) 1/4 cup coconut flour 1/4 cup almond flour 1 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. salt 3/4 tsp. baking soda if not using Jules flour mix you need 1 tsp. xanthan gum 1tsp Italian seasoning 1/2 stick of butter 3/4 cup of butter milk ( I make my own by adding a little less than a tsp. of white vinegar to milk) 1/2 cup of water 1/2 Tbsp of apple cider vinegar 1 egg white 1 cup shredded Italian cheese
How to In a large mixing bowl combine the flours,salt, Italian seasoning, baking soda, baking powder and xanstham gum (if using) and whisk
Cut the butter into tiny pieces, add to flour mixture. Now for the fun! Use your hands to mix the butter into the flour so you don’t have large butter pieces Add the cheese and mix
Add the buttermilk, water, egg white and apple cider vinegar to the flour mixture. Stir well. Mound 12 biscuits on parchment paper (or you could use an oiled muffin pan) Bake 20 min. then check with a toothpick to see if done. They may need up to 5 more minutes.
Welcome to home in my heart, KB Schaller. Please tell my readers about the Native American Christian Church and your books.
It is a pleasure to be a guest on your website. Thank you for having me.
I appreciate the opportunity to comment on the surprise many express that there is such a thing as the Native American Christian Church (NACC). It is not, however, to be confused with the Native American Church, which incorporates practices not found in the NACC.
In South Florida, where the state’s greatest concentration of Native Americans live, there are at least nine Native churches. In Oklahoma, by contrast, home to a much greater number of Native peoples, there are some two hundred fifty churches. Only an estimated three to eight percent of Native Americans identify as Christian, so congregations tend to be small.
Notwithstanding, most are vibrant, thriving entities. Native Americans traditionally are spiritual people, and that quality carries over into their Christianity. Although not all of the congregations have Native pastors, a good percentage of them do.
Mainstream Christian churches have, traditionally, tended to be quite Euro-centric, disallowing and labeling all things Native as pagan and occult.
Lately, though, Native ministries such as Wiconi International have sought to strip away the “demonizing” of any and all things Indian, including clothing, native instruments, and hair length restrictions for men.
Others such as Lakota (Sioux)-based He Sapa (New Life) ministry are increasingly led by “homegrown” Native Americans concerned with both the spiritual and temporal lives of Native people.
In fact, it is the unbending attitudes within the Euro-
centric church that fuel the angst of my novel’s characters in Gray Rainbow Journey,winner of a USA Book News National Best Books Award, and its sequel, Journey by the Sackcloth Moon.
Both story lines describe the tough choices that heroine, Dina Youngblood, a young Native beauty, must make between the Traditional Spirituality of her heritage and The Jesus Way. Her life is further complicated by her love for childhood sweetheart, handsome firebrand, Marty Osceola. Reared by the most feared shaman on the Florida East Coast and reputed to have dark powers of his own, he regards Dina’s new faith as a “sellout”.
Then there is zealous Native evangelist, Aaron Burning Rain, also smitten with Dina, who brings his big tent revival to Dina’s tiny Native community and preaches no compromise between the two belief systems. Poised on the threshold between the two worlds, she must make heart wrenching choices.
While some mainstream Christian churches embrace Mark 9:40, “For he that is not against us is on our part”, others remain entrenched against anything that does not reflect Euro interpretations of Scripture.
I can only hope that all factions will one day move closer toward Galatians 3:28:
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Our church has been hosting a Dave Ramsey seminar and we are a little over halfway through it. Money is a huge big deal in everyone’s life and yet…no one talks about not having any any. More and more people are living on their credit cards. We we’re guilty of that.
Why? Why would anyone want to do that? It’s easy. Shopping with a credit card for me was painless. It didn’t matter what it cost because Visa was in my purse and ready to slide at a moments desire.
Even when the bills came for me it wasn’t a big deal. I just handed them to my husband–unopened. (I’m sorry Ed!)
Since we started paying with cash or a debit card I’m now aware of what I’m spending. (sorry Visa) I’m know just because you have a card you don’t get to buy what you want. Only what you can afford.
It’s been a challenge to walk into my favorite store (Target) and walk past all the things things that call to me, a new t-shirt, pretty glasses to use for summer or gasp inkpens! I don’t need any of those items right now–I just want them.
The big secret is many of my friends are doing the same thing. Shopping as if they have the money. And we let each other do it! (sorry Barb!) Oh it’s just a yard of material, a new quilt pattern isn’t that much and besides I’m sure we’ll save money by giving it as a gift. Hmmm, my sewing room is full of unmade and ungiven gifts.
We don’t discuss money or bills or debt. It’s a rule right? Never talk politics, religion or money-how many times have you heard that? I think it’s time we start being honest with our family members and friends. Own up to the fact that you can’t spend as much on gifts because you have to pay a bill, or buy long term care insurance. I’m pretty sure my kids would be happy to take less in gifts if it means they won’t have to find a way to pay for me when I’m old, broken and need nursing care. I’m certain my friends would understand if I said, “Can we go for a walk in the park instead of eating out this time? Money is tight and I’d love to spend time with you–just not at a restaurant.”
Maybe we should assign ourselves designated shoppers to stay sober and keep us from harming our financial lives? I truly want to, as Dave says, “Live like no one else so that we can live like no one else when we retire.” It may be to late for us, but it’s not to late to make a bad situation better.
Haven’t heard of Dave Ramsey? There are classes offered nationwide. Check his website for one near you. It will change your life–for the better, especially if you’re in your 20-30s and you start now.
And no I don’t get any money or commission if you click his link. My desire is for everyone to know the money secrets to “Live like no one else, so you can live like no one else!”
The quality of the video isn’t great. I’m learning. I’d do it over but I don’t think I can stand the pressure! I already it did it three times. This time I managed not to scratch my head! And sadly I can’t preview this before it goes live because google is playing with blogger today. I think blogger is in time out.
This is my mom in the photo. I’m so glad she passed the love of reading and words (scrabble!) on to me.
Welcome, Janice. Can you tell us about your latest venture?
Thanks for having me. I’m thrilled to share about my latest book, MAKE MONEY WRITING, which is now available from amazon for kindle users. The book, which is loaded with helpful hints for freelancers, is free from March 12th – March 17th. After that, it will sell for $4.49.
Can you tell us a little about yourself and your writing experience?
Sure! I write under the names “Janice Thompson” and “Janice Hanna.” I just signed contract #79 (For QUEEN OF THE WAVES) and have written in a variety of genres, including romance, historical, contemporary, cozy mystery, juvenile fiction, non-fiction and more. I’m best known for my light-hearted contemporary novels and for my quirky characters. I’m pretty passionate about writing, and even more passionate about helping others discover their writing talents and abilities. For the past seven years I’ve worked as a full-time freelancer, earning my living with my books, teachings, articles, and write-for-hire work.
Why did you decide to write this book?
For several years now I’ve divided my time between freelance writing and teaching. So many aspiring writers discover that I’ve published several books and they come to me to ask the inevitable, “How do I get published?” question, usually followed by, “Is there really money to be made in publishing?” Over the past couple years I’ve put together several freelance writing courses to answer their questions, but I felt the need to do more, so I compiled all of my mini-teachings into one book.
Will readers get all of the same materials they would get in one of your courses?
No, the courses are very specific to their individual topics. MAKE MONEY WRITING covers a variety of areas of interest to the freelance writer, including: earning top dollar, magazine article writing, write-for-hire work, writing the novel and/or non-fiction book, the submission process, succeeding as a freelancer, and more. The book is not a textbook. Instead, it is motivational in tone and focuses on offering encouragement to freelancers and giving them basic tips for success in each of the areas listed above.
Can you tell us a little more about the book? Sure! It might make more sense to share some of the chapter titles because they will give you an idea of some of the topics readers will find in the book.
Earning Top Dollar
Jumping the Hurdles
In the Beginning. . .the Writer Set Goals
What Industry Pros are Saying about Goal-Setting Write. . .for Hire! Revolutionize Your Writing Girls Just Wanta Have Funds Double Your Word Count in Two Weeks Cash in on Magazine Articles Sync Up Freelance Lingo Stop, Drop and Roll (Adding the Crisis Scene) From Mii to Wii (learning how to incorporate the “we” factor) Make ‘Em Laugh Elevating Your Elevator Pitch Seven Days to Better Writing Five Things a Writer can Learn from American Idol Got Moxie? Becoming a Public Speaker Writers are from Mars, Readers are from Venus . . .and much, much more!
What other projects are you working on?
I’m currently writing QUEEN OF THE WAVES, a novel set aboard the Titanic. Very compelling story, I must say! And I’m tickled about my upcoming release, Wedding Belles.
You mentioned your courses. Can you tell us what’s going on in that world?
Yes, thanks for asking. I’m tickled about the recent release of my Non-Fiction Writing Course. I recorded this course in the studio several months ago and had a blast doing it. I’m convinced this is the most comprehensive package I’ve ever put together. Non-Fiction writers should be able to take this course and find some degree of success building their platform, writing short pieces and fully developing a non-fiction book. There’s even information on how to pitch (and ultimately market) the non-fiction book.
Here are the ten topics within the course: From Magazines to Books: Building Your Platform Understanding Non-Fiction Book Types Best Selling Topics Compiling Your Information (Braiding the Book) 33 Tips to Strengthen Your Writing Incorporating Fiction Techniques in Your Non-Fiction The Submission Process Making the Sale (Includes all aspects of the contract/sale/edits/production) Marketing Your Book How to Stay in the Game
As with all of my courses, this one is available online at www.freelancewritingcourses.com.
How can readers get the free kindle book? They can follow this link to amazon: http://amzn.to/yBeVBh. The book will be free from March 12th – March 17th and will revert to is usual $4.49 price after that.
Janice, how can readers reach you? I love to chat with my readers! To learn more about my books, visit: www.janicehannathompson.com
To learn more about my writing courses, including my new non-fiction course, visit: www.freelancewritingcourses.com
I’ve been gluten-free for almost 3 years now. When I started this journey I was a miserable person, now I’m happy (shh Ed!) okay, I’ll reword that. Most days I’m happy and feel great.
At the top of the page there is a tab that says gluten free. On that page I have started a list of good blogs, cookbooks and stuff to eat. I have suggested this page to others who are starting a gluten free diet and wish to keep updating it.
If you are gluten free will you help me help others by leaving a comment about your favorite gluten free foods and sites?
This is the second time you’ve had a marriage proposal and said yes.
Are you still flying through the clouds of joy and while wearing the cloak of proposal excitement?
Before you get to caught up in the wedding plans you need to take a moment and figure out what this means to your children and his. You love his kids and he loves yours. Everything is going to fall into the LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH category, right? If you go into your marriage unprepared wearing rose-colored glasses you’ll soon need them to cover the tears of frustration.
Some questions you might want to ask before the church is booked and the seating chart is filled in for the reception.
1. Where are we living, will all of the kids have their own space? 2. Are you comfortable with me sending your kids to time out? or taking away the wii? 3. How are we going to handle holidays? 4. What’s our plan for the child support or social security money for each child? 5. How will we find time to continue to build our relationship?
