Jenny's Dream was just reviewed by Suko's Notebook. What a wonderful review! Please visit her site and make a comment to win a free book. Jenny's Dream is the third book in the Family Saga series. Good Luck Everyone!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Jenny's Dream Reviewed and Book Give Away
Jenny's Dream was just reviewed by Suko's Notebook. What a wonderful review! Please visit her site and make a comment to win a free book. Jenny's Dream is the third book in the Family Saga series. Good Luck Everyone!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Does Your Fictional Character Come To Life?
There are many things that bring a character to life. One is an adequate description of the person and another is emotion. Let’s begin with the description of characters. We need to see the character with our mind’s eye, if possible. For example, Melinda’s description of her father gives you a feel, not only of his physical appearance, but also of his deeper inner self. Read the description of her father and see if you can feel his presence and what he is like deep down inside.
“Her father was a tall, heavy man who spent too many days at his desk. He never found time to exercise, so he tended to be overweight. He had a thick salt-and-pepper mustache and a large, rounded nose. Melinda felt that there was more of him to love than an ordinary father and loved him just the way he was. She would not change one thing about him. The bond between them was solid.”
If you choose to be more descriptive in your character’s physical attributes, there is much to consider. Let’s say he is a farmer. His build will definitely be different from a banker’s. In the early days of the West, men worked hard for a living and developed the muscles needed for that kind of work, and they were proud of their strength. They played stick-pull and wrestled for entertainment, both were games of physical strength. My father was an Idaho farmer and he wrote in his autobiography, “When I was 16, I was strong enough to lift 120 pound sacks of grain.” It was important enough to mention in his life history. Through a mutual friend, my parents got to know one another by writing letters. They never shared photos of one another, so mom asked dad what he looked like. He wrote: “Hat 7 ¼, neck 16, sleeve 35, chest 44, waist 34, inseam 32, shoe 10. Say baby – Charles Atlas doesn’t stand a chance with me.” I laughed as I read his detailed description but the truth was, my father was a muscular man without any doubt. He was an example of a robust farmer. One of the main characters in “Melinda and the Wild West” is a rancher. Read the description of Gilbert Roberts and see if you can feel what kind of person he is.
“The man stared at her with piercing brown eyes. He was an imposing figure, six-foot-two inches tall and every inch of him was muscle. He had broad shoulders, dark brown hair, and was ruggedly handsome. His arms were tanned from the sun and his shirt could not hide the bulging muscles rippling across his shoulders and chest.”
Another way of getting to know your character is through emotion. It’s the secret of holding a reader. It helps the reader feel part of the story as if he were actually there himself. Emotion is part of life. In fact, your own experiences will influence your writing and help you to use emotion. I asked my mother how she felt when she first met my father. Since she didn’t meet him the conventional way, only through letters, she said, “When our eyes met, my heart leapt within me and a warm glow filled my soul, telling me that he was the man I had been writing to.”
We feel emotion in real life, so our characters should feel likewise. In “Jenny’s Dream,” a bear charges after Gilbert. Since I had never experienced this, I studied and read people’s accounts. After much research, I was able to describe the situation. When Old Half Paw, a ten-foot grizzly bear, stands on his two hind legs, Gilbert never imagined what it would be like to face this great beast. Read the account and see if you are able to feel what Gilbert feels.
“Gilbert was not prepared for the sight that met him. The grizzly’s massive body was standing erect, ten feet tall—and angry. His blood-curdling roar was deafening. The sight of his enormous teeth protruding from his mouth and the savage look in his eyes made Gilbert tremble. As Gilbert looked up at this enormous creature, he instantly froze, paralyzed with fear. He knew that he must raise his rifle but could not move a muscle. All he could do was stare at the invincible animal that stood before him. The feeling of terror that rose in his throat made it hard to breathe as he saw the ten-foot grizzly approach him. His chest tightened with fear and his pulse throbbed.”
Emotion can help us feel satisfied because we can feel what the character feels, whether its fear, anger, frustration, or adoring love. Remember, description of the person and emotion brings your character to life and is an essential part of your story.
“Her father was a tall, heavy man who spent too many days at his desk. He never found time to exercise, so he tended to be overweight. He had a thick salt-and-pepper mustache and a large, rounded nose. Melinda felt that there was more of him to love than an ordinary father and loved him just the way he was. She would not change one thing about him. The bond between them was solid.”
If you choose to be more descriptive in your character’s physical attributes, there is much to consider. Let’s say he is a farmer. His build will definitely be different from a banker’s. In the early days of the West, men worked hard for a living and developed the muscles needed for that kind of work, and they were proud of their strength. They played stick-pull and wrestled for entertainment, both were games of physical strength. My father was an Idaho farmer and he wrote in his autobiography, “When I was 16, I was strong enough to lift 120 pound sacks of grain.” It was important enough to mention in his life history. Through a mutual friend, my parents got to know one another by writing letters. They never shared photos of one another, so mom asked dad what he looked like. He wrote: “Hat 7 ¼, neck 16, sleeve 35, chest 44, waist 34, inseam 32, shoe 10. Say baby – Charles Atlas doesn’t stand a chance with me.” I laughed as I read his detailed description but the truth was, my father was a muscular man without any doubt. He was an example of a robust farmer. One of the main characters in “Melinda and the Wild West” is a rancher. Read the description of Gilbert Roberts and see if you can feel what kind of person he is.
“The man stared at her with piercing brown eyes. He was an imposing figure, six-foot-two inches tall and every inch of him was muscle. He had broad shoulders, dark brown hair, and was ruggedly handsome. His arms were tanned from the sun and his shirt could not hide the bulging muscles rippling across his shoulders and chest.”
Another way of getting to know your character is through emotion. It’s the secret of holding a reader. It helps the reader feel part of the story as if he were actually there himself. Emotion is part of life. In fact, your own experiences will influence your writing and help you to use emotion. I asked my mother how she felt when she first met my father. Since she didn’t meet him the conventional way, only through letters, she said, “When our eyes met, my heart leapt within me and a warm glow filled my soul, telling me that he was the man I had been writing to.”
We feel emotion in real life, so our characters should feel likewise. In “Jenny’s Dream,” a bear charges after Gilbert. Since I had never experienced this, I studied and read people’s accounts. After much research, I was able to describe the situation. When Old Half Paw, a ten-foot grizzly bear, stands on his two hind legs, Gilbert never imagined what it would be like to face this great beast. Read the account and see if you are able to feel what Gilbert feels.
“Gilbert was not prepared for the sight that met him. The grizzly’s massive body was standing erect, ten feet tall—and angry. His blood-curdling roar was deafening. The sight of his enormous teeth protruding from his mouth and the savage look in his eyes made Gilbert tremble. As Gilbert looked up at this enormous creature, he instantly froze, paralyzed with fear. He knew that he must raise his rifle but could not move a muscle. All he could do was stare at the invincible animal that stood before him. The feeling of terror that rose in his throat made it hard to breathe as he saw the ten-foot grizzly approach him. His chest tightened with fear and his pulse throbbed.”
Emotion can help us feel satisfied because we can feel what the character feels, whether its fear, anger, frustration, or adoring love. Remember, description of the person and emotion brings your character to life and is an essential part of your story.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Laughter is the Best Medicine
The secret of happiness is a great mystery to many people, constantly searching for joy in everyday life. Is laughter the secret to true happiness? How about a simple, sincere smile and greeting as you pass a friend? I’ve noticed it’s quite effective. I suspect it’s because friendliness uplifts us, makes us feel warm inside. When someone goes out of his way to greet us, it feels mighty good. Laughter and smiles are contagious. They tend to spread from person to person. If you smile at a baby, he automatically smiles back. Did you know that a frown uses 87 muscles? To smile, we use 13 muscles. With those 13 muscles we can make a difference in someone’s life.
I’ve always heard that laughter is the best medicine. Is it really true? The Reader’s Digest wrote, “Scientific evidence has shown that laughter helps people breathe easier and it massages the heart and other vital organs.”
Some scientists believe that it can even guard against illness. If this is true, then laughter is definitely the best medicine. The Reader’s Digest went on to say, “In experiments, students who watched funny movies were found to have an increased flow of infection-fighting proteins in their saliva.”
Is this amazing or what? Scientists have found that positive thinking is the secret. They did some research and found that optimistic people have less health problems and live longer compared to pessimistic people.
The secret of happiness has puzzled many people. Whether joy can be found in righteous living, a belief that we are loved, or a byproduct of serving others, you can’t deny the fact that a simple smile or greeting can make a difference in our lives. Perhaps the real secret of happiness is smiling and a bit of laughter.
I once read, “Those who bring sunshine into the life of others cannot keep it from themselves.” (Anonymous)
Kersten Campbell is the author of a humorous book called Confessions of a Completely InSane Mother. Kersten said, “It has always been my belief that we, as women, need to laugh more. Mothers experience some of the most stressful working conditions on the planet, and stress can be dangerous to women’s overall health and longevity. Humor can reduce stress.”
I wanted to know more about Kersten’s views and her new book, so I interviewed her. Kersten, thank you for joining me on my blog. Will you please tell me about your new book?
Kersten: "Confessions" is a book full of humor stories about life with five kids and a mother who is far from perfect. In fact, that's why I wrote the book, so that women would be inspired to relax and enjoy motherhood and realize that nobody is perfect. I hoped it would inspire them to laugh at the little disasters that happen every day in family life. The message is: Just do your best, enjoy your family, and rely on the Savior to make up the difference.
Linda: Where did you get your ideas? Do you get most of them from real life experiences? Give us some examples.
Kersten: I get all of my ideas from real life experiences. I carry little index cards around in all my pockets so that I'll never miss recording the funny things my kids do. And they do some funny things, especially when they interact with my husband, who is the straight man in the family. I love to record all of it for later use. One example is when my daughter made us "chocolate chip" soup for lunch. That turned into a really great story combined with some of the funny things she had said to me earlier in the week.
Linda: Chocolate soup? Oh my! What do your children think about you’re writing? Are they supportive? Do they suspect that you’re writing about them?
Kersten: My kids love that there is a book published about all their exploits. They love to laugh at themselves and they share the funny stories with their friends and teachers. The neighbor kids are all begging me to put them in the next book. My kids are really hoping for movie rights but I'm not getting their hopes up. Hee hee.
Linda: Cute kids! Do you use an outline when you write or play it by ear?
Kersten: I always outline all the funny things I can think of about the topic I am going to write about. Then I try to turn it all into a story using past funny things my children or I have said or done.
Linda: One reviewer said about your book, "I seriously laughed until I cried.” How do you know when you’ve got a real hilarious story to tell? And what is a Humorist's License?
Kersten: Many people think writing humor is all laughter and fun, but actually it is really hard work. It takes a lot of planning the timing and surprises and combinations of humor elements. So in actuality you can take anything and make it funny. You just have to learn about humor writing techniques....one of which is exaggeration...(I call it Humorist's License). There are many great books that teach the formulas for humor writing on Amazon.com. One of the best books I've read is called, "Comedy Writing Secrets," by Melvin Helitzer. I also write about how to add humor to your writing on this blog: "Writer's Fortress" (http://cedarfortauthors.blogspot.com/).
Linda: So now I know what a Humorist License is. Tell us something about the real you that we’ll never forget.
Kersten: It's true that I don't sort my laundry and I am addicted to chocolate donuts. Okay...maybe you didn't want to go that deep into my psyche, but the truth about me is that I love people. I love the human condition...that we all have faults and that we need to rely upon each other and the Savior to be successful. That was part of the plan before we came here. So I don't think we, as women, should feel bad about ourselves when we're not perfect. If you want to feel better about yourself...you can read a new humor story each month on my blog: www.kersten4.blogspot.com. I hope the stories will make you smile and bring some joy to your day! Thank you so much Linda for the fun interview!
Thank you for a great interview, Kersten. So is laughter the best medicine after all? Let me know what you think. Drop a comment about your opinion. Thanks for stopping by.
You can get a copy of Kersten's book, Confessions of a Completely Insane Mother at independent LDS bookstores, Seagull books and online from Cedar Fort Books.
I’ve always heard that laughter is the best medicine. Is it really true? The Reader’s Digest wrote, “Scientific evidence has shown that laughter helps people breathe easier and it massages the heart and other vital organs.”
Some scientists believe that it can even guard against illness. If this is true, then laughter is definitely the best medicine. The Reader’s Digest went on to say, “In experiments, students who watched funny movies were found to have an increased flow of infection-fighting proteins in their saliva.”
Is this amazing or what? Scientists have found that positive thinking is the secret. They did some research and found that optimistic people have less health problems and live longer compared to pessimistic people.
The secret of happiness has puzzled many people. Whether joy can be found in righteous living, a belief that we are loved, or a byproduct of serving others, you can’t deny the fact that a simple smile or greeting can make a difference in our lives. Perhaps the real secret of happiness is smiling and a bit of laughter.
I once read, “Those who bring sunshine into the life of others cannot keep it from themselves.” (Anonymous)
Kersten Campbell is the author of a humorous book called Confessions of a Completely InSane Mother. Kersten said, “It has always been my belief that we, as women, need to laugh more. Mothers experience some of the most stressful working conditions on the planet, and stress can be dangerous to women’s overall health and longevity. Humor can reduce stress.”
I wanted to know more about Kersten’s views and her new book, so I interviewed her. Kersten, thank you for joining me on my blog. Will you please tell me about your new book?
Linda: Where did you get your ideas? Do you get most of them from real life experiences? Give us some examples.
Kersten: I get all of my ideas from real life experiences. I carry little index cards around in all my pockets so that I'll never miss recording the funny things my kids do. And they do some funny things, especially when they interact with my husband, who is the straight man in the family. I love to record all of it for later use. One example is when my daughter made us "chocolate chip" soup for lunch. That turned into a really great story combined with some of the funny things she had said to me earlier in the week.
Linda: Chocolate soup? Oh my! What do your children think about you’re writing? Are they supportive? Do they suspect that you’re writing about them?
Kersten: My kids love that there is a book published about all their exploits. They love to laugh at themselves and they share the funny stories with their friends and teachers. The neighbor kids are all begging me to put them in the next book. My kids are really hoping for movie rights but I'm not getting their hopes up. Hee hee.
Linda: Cute kids! Do you use an outline when you write or play it by ear?
Kersten: I always outline all the funny things I can think of about the topic I am going to write about. Then I try to turn it all into a story using past funny things my children or I have said or done.
Linda: One reviewer said about your book, "I seriously laughed until I cried.” How do you know when you’ve got a real hilarious story to tell? And what is a Humorist's License?
Kersten: Many people think writing humor is all laughter and fun, but actually it is really hard work. It takes a lot of planning the timing and surprises and combinations of humor elements. So in actuality you can take anything and make it funny. You just have to learn about humor writing techniques....one of which is exaggeration...(I call it Humorist's License). There are many great books that teach the formulas for humor writing on Amazon.com. One of the best books I've read is called, "Comedy Writing Secrets," by Melvin Helitzer. I also write about how to add humor to your writing on this blog: "Writer's Fortress" (http://cedarfortauthors.blogspot.com/).
Linda: So now I know what a Humorist License is. Tell us something about the real you that we’ll never forget.
Kersten: It's true that I don't sort my laundry and I am addicted to chocolate donuts. Okay...maybe you didn't want to go that deep into my psyche, but the truth about me is that I love people. I love the human condition...that we all have faults and that we need to rely upon each other and the Savior to be successful. That was part of the plan before we came here. So I don't think we, as women, should feel bad about ourselves when we're not perfect. If you want to feel better about yourself...you can read a new humor story each month on my blog: www.kersten4.blogspot.com. I hope the stories will make you smile and bring some joy to your day! Thank you so much Linda for the fun interview!
Thank you for a great interview, Kersten. So is laughter the best medicine after all? Let me know what you think. Drop a comment about your opinion. Thanks for stopping by.
You can get a copy of Kersten's book, Confessions of a Completely Insane Mother at independent LDS bookstores, Seagull books and online from Cedar Fort Books.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Holiday Traditions: Delectable Food, Bright Costumes, and Family Unity
The custom of Halloween started in Europe during the harvest season. The Europeans would celebrate the end of summer by having a harvest feast the last day of October. They would build bonfires to cook the feast and also to keep the ghosts away. They were superstitious people and believed that ghosts roamed about on the last day of October. “Hallow” meant holy and “e‘en” was short for evening. Because this celebration was the evening before All Hallows Day or All Saints Day, they decided to call it Halloween. But how did this holiday get to America? Irish immigrants brought the tradition here in the 1800s. In Ireland, Irish beggars would go to the homes of the rich on Halloween night and ask for food or money. If they refused, then evil spirits would destroy their homes for their inhospitable behavior. Once the tradition came to America, families and neighbors got together, dressed up in festive costumes, ate foods of the season and played games. It wasn’t until the mid 1900s that children began to knock on doors and ask for treats.
When we think of mouth-watering turkey, scrumptious yams and mashed potatoes, cranberries, luscious pecan and pumpkin pies with ice cream on top, we think of Thanksgiving. How did this tradition begin? It all started with a desire to be liberated from religious persecution. The Pilgrims fled their homeland in England and arrived in America on December 11, 1620. The first winter was devastating. They lost 46 of the original 102 settlers. The Indians helped the Pilgrims survive the following year, so the remaining colonists decided to celebrate with a huge feast. There were ninety-one Indians who attended the celebration and the feast lasted for three days. They had ducks, fish, lobster, clams, venison, dried fruit, berries, and plums. In 1789, George Washington wanted to make a National Day of celebration in honor of the first pilgrims. Thomas Jefferson scoffed at the idea. It brought a lot of discord because many felt that the hardships of a few Pilgrims did not warrant a national holiday. In1863, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a National Day of Thanksgiving.
Valentine’s Day has been around much longer than most people realize. In A.D. 269, Claudius was the Emperor of Rome. He wanted to have a huge army, but the Roman men were not interested in joining. They did not want to leave their wives and children. This upset Claudius, and as a result, he outlawed marriage so the men would join his army. Saint Valentine was a priest and didn’t agree with the almighty ruler. He continued to marry couples in secret. Eventually he was caught and thrown in jail. While in prison, he fell in love with the daughter of the prison guard who visited him regularly. They would sit and talk for hours. The day of his execution, February 14th, Valentine left a note, thanking her for her friendship. He signed it, “Love, from your Valentine.”
Is Christmas your favorite time of year? Do you begin your celebrations on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? We all celebrate Christmas in different ways. Some people begin celebrations nine days before Christmas. In the evening, friends and neighbors get together, and they act out the journey of Joseph and Mary going to Bethlehem. Afterwards they hang a piñata full of candy for the children to smack with long sticks. What a fun time of year!
Holidays unite families. We celebrate, eat, laugh, dance, and play together. Family traditions are important and create a bond. I enjoy learning about holidays and how they originated. When I write my novels, I try to educate my readers and include facts of interest. Because of my love for holidays, I have included them in my series of novels, “A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho.” Each story in this family saga has adventure, romance, history, and courage. Intertwining fact and fiction, these novels entertain as well as educate my readers.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Three New Books Out In One Year!
Whew! I have been real busy this year. After having three books released in one year, I then had to promote them and get the word out. It's not an easy project. It takes a lot of hard work and creative thinking, which I struggle with greatly. Creative thinking does not come easy with me. One day my husband approached me with a new idea.
He said, "Why don't you begin blogging?"
I said, "What's blogging?"
After he explained it to me, I began researching and found out what it was, what people were doing and saying on their blogs, etc. I found out that it was a friendly way of communicating your ideas and letting people know about you. So I began creating my blog. At first it was very frustrating. I couldn't figure it out for the life of me, so I gave my oldest daughter a call since she had her own blog. She told me how to go about making it attractive, how to post my photos, etc. I finally realized that it wasn't so hard after all. After creating my blog, I began checking out bloggers who interview authors. It did not take much for me to realize that blogging was a valuable tool in allowing others to get to know me as an author and a person. I still have a long ways to go but I'm learning what blogging is all about. Sometimes I talk about things that interest me, other times I talk about my books, and sometimes I talk about my innermost thoughts.
Have a great day and happy blogging!
He said, "Why don't you begin blogging?"
I said, "What's blogging?"
After he explained it to me, I began researching and found out what it was, what people were doing and saying on their blogs, etc. I found out that it was a friendly way of communicating your ideas and letting people know about you. So I began creating my blog. At first it was very frustrating. I couldn't figure it out for the life of me, so I gave my oldest daughter a call since she had her own blog. She told me how to go about making it attractive, how to post my photos, etc. I finally realized that it wasn't so hard after all. After creating my blog, I began checking out bloggers who interview authors. It did not take much for me to realize that blogging was a valuable tool in allowing others to get to know me as an author and a person. I still have a long ways to go but I'm learning what blogging is all about. Sometimes I talk about things that interest me, other times I talk about my books, and sometimes I talk about my innermost thoughts.
Have a great day and happy blogging!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
“Follow Your Dream” is the Theme of Historical Fiction Novel
When reading historical fiction, the reader feels transported to another time and place. You can go on an adventure, learn about history, feel intrigued by courageous men and women, or fall in love all over again. “Jenny’s Dream: A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho” (ISBN 978-1-58982-446-1) is one such novel, where dreams can come true. Melynda Gascoyne of The Amherst Bee Newspaper: Buffalo, New York wrote: “Clarke draws the reader into a world full of color and intrigue right from the first page.”
Jenny Roberts has many dreams, but will she be able to fulfill them? Jenny is home from college and is restless. She feels the need to spread her wings and fly away. She has dreams of becoming a writer and wants to pursue it. When her kindred friend, Will, asks her what her outlook on life is, she answers, “Dreams are an important part of life, and without them, life would be so dull. If we can envision it, then I believe it can be accomplished.”
Allison King, of Rebeccas Reads, wrote: "Linda Weaver Clarke has captured the essence of reaching for your dreams, no matter what happens to throw you off the path of getting there. The amazing details of the family dynamics, descriptions of the beautiful scenery and the historical facts of the time all made the story believable. The ease of the writing made it feel as though I was eavesdropping in on their lives. Jenny’s Dream is a book for all ages that can wrap you up and make you feel all warm inside with the love and hope that dreams can come true if you believe hard enough."
Jenny’s dreams also include falling in love. She feels that one day she will find a man to love, the “prince of her dreams.” But is it possible to find love in one’s own backyard? As the summer passes, Jenny begins to recognize her true feelings for Will. When she realizes that he means more to her than a kindred friend, she must now choose between a career and romance. The only thing standing in her way is an unpleasant memory from her past, which has haunted her since childhood. She must learn to forgive before she can choose which dream to follow. This book is about the miracle of forgiveness.
Betsy Brannon Green, Best-Selling Mystery Author, wrote: “Clarke’s characters are well developed and her setting is compelling. But what separates this book from others is Clarke’s historical accuracy and meticulous attention to detail. The reader feels transported to another time and place.”
While Jenny is trying to realize her dreams, her father is concerned about the safety of his family. A ten-foot grizzly bear is seen in the area and its boldness has frightened the community. There is one man with the courage and determination to protect his family and neighbors: Gilbert Roberts! He attempts to defy this great beast but Melinda will not have her husband be part of it. Gilbert has other ideas. Old Half Paw must be stopped. “Jenny’s Dream” is the story of a young girl’s desire to become a writer and how she finds love and forgiveness, with the legend of Old Ephraim as the subplot.
Paige Lovitt, Reader Views, wrote: “Jenny’s Dream tells a beautiful story that incorporates the value of loyalty, love, family and forgiveness into it. I found myself greatly enjoying the romances between Jenny’s parents and between Jenny and Will. Each relationship demonstrates friendship, respect and love. I also enjoyed how the author put real experiences, taken from her family, into the plot. This is a great touch because it makes the story seem real. Jenny’s Dream is a wonderful story. It is a wholesome novel that will be enjoyed by family members of all ages. I think this series is destined to be a classic.”
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Improving Family Relationships!
It takes commitment and hard work to improve family relationships. It doesn’t come easy. As you know, I raised six wonderful daughters. With all the negative influences around us, we struggle to hold our families together. But it’s a battle that is well worth it. Family must come first and foremost before anything else, even before our career. What our children need is love. Material objects and expensive gifts will never replace affection or our absence.
“Those who do too much for their children will soon find they can do nothing with their children. So many children have been so much done for, they are almost done in.” - Neal A. Maxwell
I believe that love, communication, and respect go a long way. I can think of six rules that improve relationships and make a family closer.
1. Show love by helping one another. Giving service and sharing what we have is what it’s all about. I once read, “We have been so anxious to give our children what we didn’t have that we have neglected to give them what we did have.” Love!
2. Take time for one another by playing games or having family outings. It’s amazing what a picnic can do for a family. “The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.” - Thomas Jefferson
3. Communicate with each other and take time to listen. “If only we could feel we have been heard! If only we would listen when we should!” - Richard L. Evans
4. Show respect to each family member. Never demean another person. Children watch, listen, mimic, and follow in your footsteps.
5. Pray together. “I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.” - Abraham Lincoln
6. Husband/wife relationship is a lifetime commitment. Build up the other’s self-esteem. “Marriage is not something to be indifferently treated or abused, or something that simply takes care of itself. All things need attention, care and concern, and especially so in this most sensitive of all relationships of life.” - Richard L. Evans
Barbara Bush, wife of President George Bush said, “Whatever the era, whatever the times, one thing will never change. Fathers and mothers, if you have children, they must come first. You must read to your children and you must hug your children and you must love your children. Your success as a family, our success as a society, depends not on what happens in the White House but on what happens inside your house.”
“Those who do too much for their children will soon find they can do nothing with their children. So many children have been so much done for, they are almost done in.” - Neal A. Maxwell
I believe that love, communication, and respect go a long way. I can think of six rules that improve relationships and make a family closer.
1. Show love by helping one another. Giving service and sharing what we have is what it’s all about. I once read, “We have been so anxious to give our children what we didn’t have that we have neglected to give them what we did have.” Love!
2. Take time for one another by playing games or having family outings. It’s amazing what a picnic can do for a family. “The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.” - Thomas Jefferson
3. Communicate with each other and take time to listen. “If only we could feel we have been heard! If only we would listen when we should!” - Richard L. Evans
4. Show respect to each family member. Never demean another person. Children watch, listen, mimic, and follow in your footsteps.
5. Pray together. “I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.” - Abraham Lincoln
6. Husband/wife relationship is a lifetime commitment. Build up the other’s self-esteem. “Marriage is not something to be indifferently treated or abused, or something that simply takes care of itself. All things need attention, care and concern, and especially so in this most sensitive of all relationships of life.” - Richard L. Evans
Barbara Bush, wife of President George Bush said, “Whatever the era, whatever the times, one thing will never change. Fathers and mothers, if you have children, they must come first. You must read to your children and you must hug your children and you must love your children. Your success as a family, our success as a society, depends not on what happens in the White House but on what happens inside your house.”
Friday, September 25, 2009
Old Ephraim VS The Bear Lake Monster
Old Ephraim was known as “Old Three Toes” because of a deformity on one foot. He roamed the mountains from Soda Springs, Idaho to the Logan Canyon in northern Utah from 1911 to 1923. The evidence of the strength and power of this 1100-pound bear was frightening. At one point, he bit a thirteen-foot log, twelve inches in diameter, into eleven lengths as though they had been chopped. He also bit off a six-inch aspen limb in just one bite, which was nine feet and eleven inches above the ground. He even broke the back of a cow with just one blow of his gigantic paw. For twelve years, he had been wreaking havoc in the communities. Old Three Toes did some major damage to the flocks, crippling the sheep owners financially. He was becoming a bolder and a more ruthless killer as the years passed. Because of this one grizzly, sheep owners had a tough time hiring men to tend their sheep. Many of the existing sheepherders refused to stay on the job and quit. At last, the farmers decided it was time to put a stop to it. They set trap after trap at all his lairs and wallows. Sometimes the bear trap was found flung many yards away. Other times it was left alone, but his distinctive tracks were all around the trap. He seemed to know what the traps were. He was the smartest and strongest grizzly anyone had ever encountered.
How about the Bear Lake Monster? Is it fact or fiction? The mystery of the Bear Lake Monster is an exciting part of Idaho history. When the settlers arrived in 1863, the Indians told them all about the Great Bear Lake Monster. It had captured and carried off two of their braves while swimming. The legend came alive when people began reporting its existence. The monster was described as a serpent-like creature with legs about 18-inches long, and could crawl out of water. The monster’s eyes were flaming red and its ears stuck out from the sides of its skinny head. Its body was 90 feet long, resembling a gigantic alligator, and it could swim faster than a galloping horse. It had a gigantic mouth, large enough to swallow a man, and it blew water from its mouth and nose. Of course, it only came out in the evening or at dusk. Throughout the years, no one has ever disproved the Bear Lake Monster. A bunch of scientists tried to discredit the monster and said it was a huge codfish that was shipped in from the East but could not prove this theory. Does the Bear Lake Monster exist? Whatever conclusion is drawn, the legend still lives on and brings a great deal of mystery and excitement to the community.
The research about this monster and the grizzly were intriguing to me since I was from southern Idaho. After my research was complete, I decided to put together a historical fiction series called A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho, using every bit of the information I had gleaned. “Jenny’s Dream” is the story of a young girl’s desire to become a writer, the miracle of forgiveness, and how she finds love in her own backyard, with the legend of Old Ephraim as the subplot. “David and the Bear Lake Monster” is the story of a young man’s desire to find true happiness, he finds himself entranced with one very special lady, and he’s bound to disprove the existence of the Bear Lake Monster. Does he succeed?
The stories of Old Ephraim and the Bear Lake Monster still live on, being retold at campfires and in the homes of curious children living in southern Idaho. Parents and grandparents smile as they retell these exciting tales to wide-eyed youth and watch the excitement in their faces.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Book Give-Away
Suko's Notebook just reviewed my book today on my birthday. Check it out at http://suko95.blogspot.com/2009/10/melinda-and-wild-west.html.
Mix a Happy-go-lucky Bachelor with a Roaring 20s Woman and You Have: Elena, Woman of Courage
In the 1920s, the new generation spoke a language that their parents didn’t understand. They had words like: Cat’s pajamas! Ah, horsefeathers! Attaboy! Baloney! You slay me! When referring to a woman, they used doll, tomato, and bearcat. When a person was in love, they were goofy. If a person was a fool, they were a sap. And when a woman wasn’t in the mood for romance, she would say, “The bank’s closed.” Elena, Woman of Courage: A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho (ISBN: 978-1-58982-545-1) is filled with courage, romance, and humor.
When a woman settles into a strict conservative town as the newest doctor, a slew of problems begin to rise. The town is not ready for a female doctor, let alone one so strong and independent. Elena Yeates, the town’s newest doctor, must struggle to prove herself in this western town, while keeping her composure, poise, and femininity. As she fights to prove herself, the town’s most eligible bachelor finds it a challenge to see if he can win her heart. With the 1920’s rise of women’s rights, this novel gives you great insight at the struggles women had to go through, all the while watching a young love blossom!
“Elena, Woman of Courage is a wonderful book full of history, passion and romance, as well as a touch of suspense and humor,” wrote Kim Atchue-Cusella, Book Loons. “The characters are matched perfectly and it is sweet to watch romance develop between John and Elena. This was the last of five books in the series and it has been a joy to watch the family grow and prosper.”
Elena is a courageous woman who went to college during a time when women were not encouraged to be educated beyond high school. The 1920s was a time of change when women began fighting for their rights. After getting her degree as a doctor, she moves to the West to set up her own practice. When she arrives in a small town in Idaho, she meets Mr. Anderson who opposes her from day one but Elena’s stubborn nature will not allow her to give up. In her fight for equality, she learns to love the people of Bear Lake Valley and realizes she has found a home at last.
When Elena meets John Roberts, a rugged and good-looking farmer, she does not trust his intentions. As she gets to know him, she finds that he has deep respect for the education of women and abhors prejudice. John is the son of Gilbert and Melinda, but there is one thing that stands in the way of happiness. He is terrified of marriage and commitment. He is known as the “Happy-go-lucky Bachelor.”
“Linda Weaver Clarke displays an easy and excellent style of writing, blending adventure/romance/history/humor and courage. A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho is an instant classic and should put this author on the literary map all over the world. A MUST read!”– Page One Literary Book Review
About the Author
Linda Weaver Clarke travels throughout the United States, teaching a “Family Legacy Workshop,” encouraging others to turn their family history and autobiography into a variety of interesting stories. Her novel “Melinda and the Wild West” was a Semi-Finalist in the “Reviewers Choice Awards 2007.” The historical fiction series, A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho will include the following novels: Melinda and the Wild West, Edith and the Mysterious Stranger, Jenny’s Dream, David and the Bear Lake Monster, and Elena, Woman of Courage.
“Elena, Woman of Courage” (ISBN: 978-1-58982-545-1, American Book Publishing, 2009). For more information, visit www.lindaweaverclarke.com. Publicity contact: www.american-book.com.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Dreams and Goals!
Dreams are a part of life and they come straight from the heart. If you work hard enough, you can accomplish anything. It’s all a state of mind. If you believe in yourself, then nothing else matters.
How do you accomplish this dream? Make a list of goals. If your dream seems unattainable, don’t get discouraged. Work on each subject one at a time. It’s like hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada, 2,485 miles long. Do it one step at a time. You’ll eventually get there. For some, it may take longer than others, but it will be worth all the effort and work you put into it. You must have faith in yourself. Faith and hope are the secrets of success. They go hand in hand.
John D. Hess said that men are great because they have “a deep conviction for their cause” and the “consuming belief in their ability to do it.”
It’s all up to you to make a difference in the world. Perhaps your contribution won’t be as dramatic as some, but your contribution to society is important. It’s up to us how hard we work for our dream. I believe each of us has something to contribute and hopefully uplift others. We can do this by educating and improving ourselves.
I once had a dream. I wanted to graduate from college. At the age of 48, it was one of the most difficult challenges I had ever come upon. On the first day of school, I had butterflies in my stomach, I was feeling nausea from the stress, and I was wondering if I had made the right decision in my life. Was I crazy to take upon myself this feat at my age? After getting through the first month, I realized it wasn’t so bad after all. I just took one day at a time, knowing that I had committed myself to this task of getting a degree. After four long years and many wonderful experiences, I received my Bachelor of Arts degree and the Outstanding Non-Traditional Student Award for the College of Performing Arts in 2002. All six of my children were at my graduation and watched me walk down the aisle to get my diploma. I had tears in my eyes, and so did they. I had accomplished something that I thought I was too old to do.
After that, I decided to accomplish another dream. I submitted a novel to several publishers. I had written a historical fiction family saga, “Melinda and the Wild West.” When a publisher accepted my work, I was thrilled and filled with euphoria, floating on cloud nine. All of this happened because I believed in myself, because I worked hard, because I had a dream. I knew that if I didn’t believe in myself, then no one else would.
Life is full of choices and what we do with those choices will make our future. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: “The future belongs to those who prepare for it.”
We must develop our talents and acquire skills, gain knowledge and learn the lessons of life, no matter what age we are. We must learn everything we can through reading and listening to those who have accomplished their goals. Remember, take one step at a time until your dream is fulfilled. We should not compare ourselves to others, noticing their achievements and how quickly they obtained them. We should be concerned with our own growth. Hugh B. Brown said, “We are not endeavoring to get ahead of others, but to surpass ourselves.”
We must decide what our goal is, work hard, pay the price, and never give up. Helen Keller said, “We can do anything we want to if we stick to it long enough.”
Helen Keller is a good example to us all. She was deaf and blind but she never let that stop her progress. She didn’t want to be ignorant or live a life of mediocrity. She wanted to rise above her circumstances. She went to Radcliff College during a time when women were not encouraged to get a higher education. She became an author, suffragist, and a world-famous speaker.
While pursuing our goals, we will build character, qualities that make us distinctive. William James O’Shea said, “Character development is the great, if not the sole, aim of education.”
Character development is an important part of life. David O. McKay said, “True education does not consist merely in the acquiring of a few facts of science, history, literature, or art; but in the development of character.”
Our life is full of choices. What we make of our life is up to us. The important thing is to do the best we can with what we’ve got. Go for your goal and never give up!
How do you accomplish this dream? Make a list of goals. If your dream seems unattainable, don’t get discouraged. Work on each subject one at a time. It’s like hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada, 2,485 miles long. Do it one step at a time. You’ll eventually get there. For some, it may take longer than others, but it will be worth all the effort and work you put into it. You must have faith in yourself. Faith and hope are the secrets of success. They go hand in hand.
John D. Hess said that men are great because they have “a deep conviction for their cause” and the “consuming belief in their ability to do it.”
It’s all up to you to make a difference in the world. Perhaps your contribution won’t be as dramatic as some, but your contribution to society is important. It’s up to us how hard we work for our dream. I believe each of us has something to contribute and hopefully uplift others. We can do this by educating and improving ourselves.
I once had a dream. I wanted to graduate from college. At the age of 48, it was one of the most difficult challenges I had ever come upon. On the first day of school, I had butterflies in my stomach, I was feeling nausea from the stress, and I was wondering if I had made the right decision in my life. Was I crazy to take upon myself this feat at my age? After getting through the first month, I realized it wasn’t so bad after all. I just took one day at a time, knowing that I had committed myself to this task of getting a degree. After four long years and many wonderful experiences, I received my Bachelor of Arts degree and the Outstanding Non-Traditional Student Award for the College of Performing Arts in 2002. All six of my children were at my graduation and watched me walk down the aisle to get my diploma. I had tears in my eyes, and so did they. I had accomplished something that I thought I was too old to do.
After that, I decided to accomplish another dream. I submitted a novel to several publishers. I had written a historical fiction family saga, “Melinda and the Wild West.” When a publisher accepted my work, I was thrilled and filled with euphoria, floating on cloud nine. All of this happened because I believed in myself, because I worked hard, because I had a dream. I knew that if I didn’t believe in myself, then no one else would.
Life is full of choices and what we do with those choices will make our future. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: “The future belongs to those who prepare for it.”
We must develop our talents and acquire skills, gain knowledge and learn the lessons of life, no matter what age we are. We must learn everything we can through reading and listening to those who have accomplished their goals. Remember, take one step at a time until your dream is fulfilled. We should not compare ourselves to others, noticing their achievements and how quickly they obtained them. We should be concerned with our own growth. Hugh B. Brown said, “We are not endeavoring to get ahead of others, but to surpass ourselves.”
We must decide what our goal is, work hard, pay the price, and never give up. Helen Keller said, “We can do anything we want to if we stick to it long enough.”
Helen Keller is a good example to us all. She was deaf and blind but she never let that stop her progress. She didn’t want to be ignorant or live a life of mediocrity. She wanted to rise above her circumstances. She went to Radcliff College during a time when women were not encouraged to get a higher education. She became an author, suffragist, and a world-famous speaker.
While pursuing our goals, we will build character, qualities that make us distinctive. William James O’Shea said, “Character development is the great, if not the sole, aim of education.”
Character development is an important part of life. David O. McKay said, “True education does not consist merely in the acquiring of a few facts of science, history, literature, or art; but in the development of character.”
Our life is full of choices. What we make of our life is up to us. The important thing is to do the best we can with what we’ve got. Go for your goal and never give up!
A World of Hard Knocks
We live in a world of hard knocks, a world where we can learn and gain knowledge. We grow from the many experiences we have in life. These trials teach us patience and help us to become strong. We can compare it to a rough stone that tumbles in a streambed and gradually becomes smooth and beautiful. All the jagged edges have been worn off.
Trials are part of life. No one can avoid it. Just as life begins to hand us something wonderful, then something inevitably pulls us down. Sometimes we have physical or mental stress put upon us at the most inconvenient time of our lives. We just want life to go smoothly, as it was before, with no conflict whatsoever. If we had a way out, then we would take it.
At the age of thirteen, it was discovered that I had scoliosis of the spine. I had a series of back operations, body casts and braces that lasted for three years. My teenage years were not a normal one. I was bedridden for several weeks at a time and had to miss school. I also missed out on many experiences such as camp-outs, baseball, and slumber parties. I tended to be shy and quiet as a teenager. Because I was different from others, I had very few friends and was picked on from time to time. I was young and didn’t understand why I couldn’t live a normal teenage life. I grew from this experience. I changed for the better. I look back at this conflict and I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m a different person and I’m stronger. I overcame my weaknesses and turned to God. Many times these trials can turn us in the right direction.
Some times we feel that our trials are unbearable and we don’t realize the Lord understands and wants to help us through it but we must have faith. Life's trials remind me of this poem. I love it.
Good Timber
The tree that never had to fight
For sun and sky and air and light,
But stood out on the open plain
And always got it’s share of rain,
Never became a forest king
But lived and died a scrubby thing.
The man who never had to toil
To gain and farm his patch of soil,
Who never had to win his share
Of sun and sky and light and air,
Never became a manly man
But lived and died as he began.
Good Timber does not grow with ease,
The stronger the wind, the stronger the trees.
The further sky, the greater length,
The more the storm, the more the strength.
By sun and cold, by rain and snow,
In trees and men good timbers grow.
Where thickest lies the forest growth
We find the patriarchs of both.
And they hold council with the stars
Whose broken branches show the scars
Of many winds and much of strife:
This is the common Law of Life.
-- Douglas Malloch
Trials are part of life. No one can avoid it. Just as life begins to hand us something wonderful, then something inevitably pulls us down. Sometimes we have physical or mental stress put upon us at the most inconvenient time of our lives. We just want life to go smoothly, as it was before, with no conflict whatsoever. If we had a way out, then we would take it.
At the age of thirteen, it was discovered that I had scoliosis of the spine. I had a series of back operations, body casts and braces that lasted for three years. My teenage years were not a normal one. I was bedridden for several weeks at a time and had to miss school. I also missed out on many experiences such as camp-outs, baseball, and slumber parties. I tended to be shy and quiet as a teenager. Because I was different from others, I had very few friends and was picked on from time to time. I was young and didn’t understand why I couldn’t live a normal teenage life. I grew from this experience. I changed for the better. I look back at this conflict and I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m a different person and I’m stronger. I overcame my weaknesses and turned to God. Many times these trials can turn us in the right direction.
Some times we feel that our trials are unbearable and we don’t realize the Lord understands and wants to help us through it but we must have faith. Life's trials remind me of this poem. I love it.
Good Timber
The tree that never had to fight
For sun and sky and air and light,
But stood out on the open plain
And always got it’s share of rain,
Never became a forest king
But lived and died a scrubby thing.
The man who never had to toil
To gain and farm his patch of soil,
Who never had to win his share
Of sun and sky and light and air,
Never became a manly man
But lived and died as he began.
Good Timber does not grow with ease,
The stronger the wind, the stronger the trees.
The further sky, the greater length,
The more the storm, the more the strength.
By sun and cold, by rain and snow,
In trees and men good timbers grow.
Where thickest lies the forest growth
We find the patriarchs of both.
And they hold council with the stars
Whose broken branches show the scars
Of many winds and much of strife:
This is the common Law of Life.
-- Douglas Malloch
Friday, September 4, 2009
How Important Is Your Family Legacy?
The importance of family legacy can never be over emphasized. Do your children know their heritage? Who are your ancestors? What were their traditions? What religion were they? What beliefs did they have? Did they fight for a cause and what was it about?
Each of us has a story from our ancestors or even our very own story to tell. If these stories are unwritten, then how are your children going to know of their ancestry, of their parentage, or even family traditions of the past? Are these stories and traditions going to be lost to your children simply because you failed to put them on paper? It’s up to us to write these experiences down.
You can turn your family history into a variety of stories. Remember, conflict is part of our lives and makes for an interesting story. Don’t leave out what your ancestors suffered and for what cause. You want your children to be proud of who they are. We must share these stories with them.
First, collect your thoughts; write down any experiences that you remember. Talk to family members and discuss memories. Use letters they wrote to one another. Do research of that time period and find out what the country was going through, and insert it in the history of your ancestor. The turmoil of a country helps you to understand what your family went through and why they suffered. Did they live during the depression, and if so, how did it affect them? Sometimes what the country went through has to do with the circumstances of your ancestors. If they lived during war times, it helps your children understand why their grandparents had such tough times, why they barely made ends meet, or why they had to flee a certain country.
Find out everything you can about the area to both educate your readers and to make the setting feel real. If possible, go to the area you want to write about, walk around, find specific places of importance, where your ancestors lived, went to school, and played. If you can’t go there, then do research and find pictures of that area. Study books at the library or search the Internet.
Time Period is another important part of research. During the roaring twenties, bobbed hair was the rage. If your grandmother bobbed her hair and went to the dance marathons, write about it. If your ancestor loved reading books in the evening before retiring, it would be interesting to add what kind of light he used. Little details like this warms a story up and can bring your ancestor to life. Did he use electricity or an oil lantern? It sounds more interesting to say, “Grandfather sat in his overstuffed chair and read for hours with an oil lantern at his side.” Rather than just saying, “Grandfather read extensively before retiring.”
Emotion is the secret of holding a reader and part of our lives, so why ignore such an important element in a story? But remember: Show, don’t tell. If an ancestor had to defend her home from marauders, how did she feel? Was she frightened? If an outlaw challenged your great grandfather, what were his feelings deep down inside? Was he angry? If your grandfather was faced with a grizzly bear in the wild, how did he react? Did his face turn pale and his hands tremble? These are questions that you must research.
After writing down all you collected, then organize it into a story. You can make several short stories, making the history into segments. Or you can write the whole history as a continuous flow.
For those writing their own autobiography, don’t forget descriptions of love. You know what it feels like to be in love or to be loved, so describe it. Our hearts swell within, sending a warm feeling down our spine, and making us feel as if life was worth living. If we can adequately describe the feelings of love, then perhaps our children will understand our relationship with our spouse even better. Remember, emotions are part of life and can be an essential part of your story.
The importance of family legacy can never be over emphasized. Your children will be grateful once they’re grown. They’ll want to know their heritage, what their ancestors stood for, and what they believed in. Make your family legacy something your children will remember, something they will be proud of.
For samples of what you can do, read the short stories of my ancestors at www.lindaweaverclarke.com.
Monday, August 31, 2009
The Legend of the Bear Lake Monster
The waves splashed gently upon the shore and the full moon shone brightly upon Bear Lake, making the water shimmer. A deep foreboding was in the air and the fawn, sipping from the lake, could sense it. His ears perked up and he stood still while his eyes searched the area. Only the sounds of nature could be heard, crickets sang and an owl hooted, but the deer sensed that he was in danger and quickly darted away. With great speed, he sprinted gracefully, as if in mid air, toward safety.
A few feet from shore, the water abruptly parted and exposed a gigantic brown lump about 90-feet long. Water was trickling down its sides as it floated in the stillness of the night. At first glance it looked like an enormous log that had floated to the surface. After a couple seconds, it slowly moved toward shore. A howl of a wolf was heard in the distance but it was instantly cut off when a thunderous noise, like the roaring of an angry bull, pierced the night and was heard from the shores of Bear Lake and beyond. Immediately, the sounds of nature became silent and an eerie sense of foreboding remained in the atmosphere.
The mystery of the Bear Lake Monster has been an exciting part of Idaho history ever since the early pioneers arrived in 1863. Prominent leaders of the area encouraged the Indian legend because no one had a desire to move to the cold Bear Lake country. The valley was located at the tops of the Rocky Mountains in southern Idaho and the winters were harsh.
The legend of the Bear Lake Monster made life a little more exciting for the pioneers. Some people claimed to have seen it and gave descriptions of it. Throughout the years, no one has ever disproved the Bear Lake Monster. A bunch of scientists tried to discredit the monster and said it was a huge codfish that was shipped in from the East. Does the Bear Lake Monster exist? Is it fact or fiction, legend or myth?
The legend of the Bear Lake Monster began with the Natives who inhabited this valley. When the settlers arrived in 1863, the Indians told them all about the Great Bear Lake Monster. It had captured and carried off two of their braves while swimming. The legend came alive when people began reporting its existence.
Thomas Sleight and John Collings of Paris, Idaho, and Allen and M.C. Davis of St. Charles were taking six girls home from a party in Fish Haven when they stopped off at the lake. Some unusually large waves got their attention. They noticed four brown lumps and six smaller ones that were heading southward. They swam with incredible speed, about a mile a minute, until they were out of sight.
One summer day in 1868, S. M. Johnson was riding his horse alongside the shoreline when he saw an object floating in the water. At first glance, it looked like a man’s body. He was shocked and thought that someone had drowned so he trotted his horse closer and watched the object but it didn’t move. When the water didn’t wash the body ashore, he figured it must have been a tree that was anchored to the bottom of the lake with its roots still in tact. As he watched this so-called tree, he said it opened a gigantic mouth that was large enough to swallow a man and it blew water from its mouth and nose. Johnson said that it had a skinny head, huge pointed ears, and three small legs that rose up from the water as it approached the shore.
Some time later, a group of twenty people spotted the monster and among these were prominent men of the community. Two outstanding leaders who reported the sighting were Wilford Woodruff and George Q. Cannon. No one doubted what they saw. These men had integrity and were trustworthy.
The interesting thing is that all the reports have pretty much the same description. The monster’s eyes were flaming red and its ears stuck out from the sides of its skinny head. Its body was long, resembling a gigantic alligator, and it could swim faster than a galloping horse. It had small legs and a huge mouth, big enough to eat a man.
Is the Bear Lake Monster fact or fiction, legend or myth? Whatever conclusion is drawn, the legend still lives on and brings a great deal of mystery and excitement to the community. Remember, when visiting Idaho, never doubt the Bear Lake Monster or you’ll be frowned upon. No one makes fun of the great legend of Bear Lake Valley!
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Dreams Are a Part of Life
Dreams can come true, no matter what age you are. Dreams are a part of life and they come straight from the heart. Mack David wrote, “A dream is a wish your heart makes.” In fact, dreams eventually become our goals. If you work hard enough, you can accomplish anything you put your mind to. It’s all a state of mind. If you believe in yourself, then nothing else matters. You have to first decide if it’s worth it and then put your whole heart and soul into it. Sidney Harris wrote, “A winner makes commitments; a loser makes promises.”
Remember: if you don’t do your best, a job that’s half done isn’t worth the effort. Go for your goal and never give up! It’s all up to you to make a difference in the world, whether it is large or small. Perhaps your contribution won’t be as dramatic as Alexander Graham Bell and the invention of the telephone, but still, your contribution to society is important. Ned Washington wrote, “If your heart is in your dream, no request is too extreme, when you wish upon a star as dreamers do.” He is right when he says that “no request is too extreme.” It’s up to you how hard you must work for your dream.
You are the one who has to decide
Whether you’ll do it or toss it aside.
You are the one who makes up your mind
Whether you’ll lead or linger behind.
Kindly or selfish, gentle or strong,
Keeping the right or taking the wrong.
Careless of honor or guarding your pride,
All these are things you must decide.
Yours the selection whatever you do,
Remember the things men call character
And testimony; it’s all up to you.
----anonymous
Dreams can come true. It’s all up to you. A few years ago, I decided it was about time to finish something I had begun when I was young. I decided to go back to college and get a degree. It was one of the most difficult challenges I had ever come upon. Here I was in my late 40s and I was going back to college. On the first day of school, I had butterflies in my stomach, I was feeling nausea from the stress, and I was wondering if I had made the right decision in my life. Was I crazy to take upon myself this feat at my age? After getting through the first month, I realized it wasn’t so bad after all. The only thing I struggled with was algebra and studying for tests. I just took one day at a time, knowing that I had committed myself to this task of getting a degree. I trekked across campus as fast as I could, trying to get to class on time. The young college students were sweet and let me know they were happy to have me in class, making me feel accepted. After four long years, I received my Bachelor of Arts degree and the Outstanding Non-Traditional Student Award for the College of Performing Arts in 2002. With that behind me, I decided to be brave and try something I hadn’t done before. I submitted my first novel to several publishers. It was called “Melinda and the Wild West,” a family saga with four more books to follow. After a while, American Book Publishing, a traditional publishing company, accepted my work. I was elated. All of this happened because I believed in myself, because I worked hard, because I had a dream. I knew that if I didn’t believe in myself, then no one else would. Yes, dreams can come true if you work hard and never give up.
Each of us has something to contribute to this world and hopefully build up and uplift others. We can do this by educating and improving ourselves. James E. Faust expressed it in a different way. He said, “The Lord has a great work for each of us to do. You may wonder how this can be. You may feel that there is nothing special or superior about you or your ability… The Lord can do remarkable miracles with a person of ordinary ability who is humble, faithful, and diligent in serving the Lord and seeks to improve himself.”
Faith is the secret of success. I believe what Mack David wrote: “Have faith in your dreams and someday your rainbow will come smiling through…if you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true.”
Remember: if you don’t do your best, a job that’s half done isn’t worth the effort. Go for your goal and never give up! It’s all up to you to make a difference in the world, whether it is large or small. Perhaps your contribution won’t be as dramatic as Alexander Graham Bell and the invention of the telephone, but still, your contribution to society is important. Ned Washington wrote, “If your heart is in your dream, no request is too extreme, when you wish upon a star as dreamers do.” He is right when he says that “no request is too extreme.” It’s up to you how hard you must work for your dream.
You are the one who has to decide
Whether you’ll do it or toss it aside.
You are the one who makes up your mind
Whether you’ll lead or linger behind.
Kindly or selfish, gentle or strong,
Keeping the right or taking the wrong.
Careless of honor or guarding your pride,
All these are things you must decide.
Yours the selection whatever you do,
Remember the things men call character
And testimony; it’s all up to you.
----anonymous
Dreams can come true. It’s all up to you. A few years ago, I decided it was about time to finish something I had begun when I was young. I decided to go back to college and get a degree. It was one of the most difficult challenges I had ever come upon. Here I was in my late 40s and I was going back to college. On the first day of school, I had butterflies in my stomach, I was feeling nausea from the stress, and I was wondering if I had made the right decision in my life. Was I crazy to take upon myself this feat at my age? After getting through the first month, I realized it wasn’t so bad after all. The only thing I struggled with was algebra and studying for tests. I just took one day at a time, knowing that I had committed myself to this task of getting a degree. I trekked across campus as fast as I could, trying to get to class on time. The young college students were sweet and let me know they were happy to have me in class, making me feel accepted. After four long years, I received my Bachelor of Arts degree and the Outstanding Non-Traditional Student Award for the College of Performing Arts in 2002. With that behind me, I decided to be brave and try something I hadn’t done before. I submitted my first novel to several publishers. It was called “Melinda and the Wild West,” a family saga with four more books to follow. After a while, American Book Publishing, a traditional publishing company, accepted my work. I was elated. All of this happened because I believed in myself, because I worked hard, because I had a dream. I knew that if I didn’t believe in myself, then no one else would. Yes, dreams can come true if you work hard and never give up.
Each of us has something to contribute to this world and hopefully build up and uplift others. We can do this by educating and improving ourselves. James E. Faust expressed it in a different way. He said, “The Lord has a great work for each of us to do. You may wonder how this can be. You may feel that there is nothing special or superior about you or your ability… The Lord can do remarkable miracles with a person of ordinary ability who is humble, faithful, and diligent in serving the Lord and seeks to improve himself.”
Faith is the secret of success. I believe what Mack David wrote: “Have faith in your dreams and someday your rainbow will come smiling through…if you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true.”
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
History of Idaho’s Bear Lake Valley, Land of Enchantment
Rugged mountains, lush valleys, and bright red patches of Indian paintbrush that seem to set the land on fire, grizzly bears, outlaws, and the Bear Lake Monster! Idaho’s Bear Lake Valley, located in the tops of the Rocky Mountains, has fascinating history. Here mountain men held many a rendezvous, trapped and hunted. In 1819, Mountain Man “Fats” McKenzie named this area Bear Lake Valley because of the abundant black bears that roamed the Wasatch Mountains and after the most beautiful aqua-colored lake he had ever seen.
Outlaws, including the “Wild Bunch,” roamed the valley, rustling cattle and robbing banks. In 1896, Butch Cassidy and two of his men robbed the bank in Montpelier, the complete account having been recorded by the town. Eventually one man was caught, but Cassidy had gotten away with $7,000. Every year, Montpelier puts on a reenactment of the robbery for the public complete with costumes, horses, and revolvers. Of all the western outlaws, there seems to be a feeling of intrigue when the stories of Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch are told.
Many bears roamed the Rocky Mountains. Early settlers knew the temperament of these animals and were cautious. There was one such grizzly by the name of Old Ephraim that roamed the mountains of the Wasatch Front, striking fear into the hearts of men and beasts alike. This grizzly caused unparalleled damage and destruction, killing and plundering everywhere he went. Sheepherders often feared for their lives. From 1911 to 1923, he roamed the Wasatch Mountains from southern Idaho to northern Utah, wreaking havoc wherever he went. He was referred to as “Old Three Toes” because one foot was deformed. The grizzly measured at exactly nine feet and eleven inches tall, weighing 1100 pounds.
The lake itself is seven-and-a-half miles wide and twenty miles long, and is home to the Bonneville Cisco fish, which is indigenous to the area. It is also the home of the Bear Lake Monster. The mystery of this monster has been an exciting part of Bear Lake history ever since the early pioneers arrived in 1863. Native American tribes such as the Shoshone, Bannock, and Utes inhabited this valley. Shortly after the settlement of the pioneers, the Indians told the settlers all about the Great Bear Lake Monster. They said it had captured and carried away two of their braves who were swimming. They told the pioneers that the monster was a serpent-like creature, had legs about 18 inches long and sometimes crawled out of the water.
The legend of the Bear Lake Monster made life a little more exciting for the pioneers. Throughout the years, no one has ever disproved the Bear Lake Monster. A group of scientists tried to discredit the monster and said that it was a huge codfish that was shipped in from the East, but the local people refuse to believe it. Many claim to have seen it and have given their own accounts of the Bear Lake Monster. They described it as being 90 feet long. It had small legs, flaming red eyes, ears that stuck out from the sides of its skinny head, and a huge mouth that was big enough to eat a man. Some said it resembled a gigantic alligator. They claimed it could swim faster than a galloping horse, and roared like an angry bull. This legend still lives on today; the question is: is it fact or fiction?
“A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho” is a series of historical fiction novels that include this captivating history, and at the same time be entertained and watch romance blossom. Rugged mountains, lush valleys, jagged cliffs, and bright red patches of Indian paintbrush, grizzly bears, outlaws, and the Bear Lake Monster! Idaho’s Bear Lake Valley is an enchanting place to visit.
Outlaws, including the “Wild Bunch,” roamed the valley, rustling cattle and robbing banks. In 1896, Butch Cassidy and two of his men robbed the bank in Montpelier, the complete account having been recorded by the town. Eventually one man was caught, but Cassidy had gotten away with $7,000. Every year, Montpelier puts on a reenactment of the robbery for the public complete with costumes, horses, and revolvers. Of all the western outlaws, there seems to be a feeling of intrigue when the stories of Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch are told.
Many bears roamed the Rocky Mountains. Early settlers knew the temperament of these animals and were cautious. There was one such grizzly by the name of Old Ephraim that roamed the mountains of the Wasatch Front, striking fear into the hearts of men and beasts alike. This grizzly caused unparalleled damage and destruction, killing and plundering everywhere he went. Sheepherders often feared for their lives. From 1911 to 1923, he roamed the Wasatch Mountains from southern Idaho to northern Utah, wreaking havoc wherever he went. He was referred to as “Old Three Toes” because one foot was deformed. The grizzly measured at exactly nine feet and eleven inches tall, weighing 1100 pounds.
The lake itself is seven-and-a-half miles wide and twenty miles long, and is home to the Bonneville Cisco fish, which is indigenous to the area. It is also the home of the Bear Lake Monster. The mystery of this monster has been an exciting part of Bear Lake history ever since the early pioneers arrived in 1863. Native American tribes such as the Shoshone, Bannock, and Utes inhabited this valley. Shortly after the settlement of the pioneers, the Indians told the settlers all about the Great Bear Lake Monster. They said it had captured and carried away two of their braves who were swimming. They told the pioneers that the monster was a serpent-like creature, had legs about 18 inches long and sometimes crawled out of the water.
The legend of the Bear Lake Monster made life a little more exciting for the pioneers. Throughout the years, no one has ever disproved the Bear Lake Monster. A group of scientists tried to discredit the monster and said that it was a huge codfish that was shipped in from the East, but the local people refuse to believe it. Many claim to have seen it and have given their own accounts of the Bear Lake Monster. They described it as being 90 feet long. It had small legs, flaming red eyes, ears that stuck out from the sides of its skinny head, and a huge mouth that was big enough to eat a man. Some said it resembled a gigantic alligator. They claimed it could swim faster than a galloping horse, and roared like an angry bull. This legend still lives on today; the question is: is it fact or fiction?
“A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho” is a series of historical fiction novels that include this captivating history, and at the same time be entertained and watch romance blossom. Rugged mountains, lush valleys, jagged cliffs, and bright red patches of Indian paintbrush, grizzly bears, outlaws, and the Bear Lake Monster! Idaho’s Bear Lake Valley is an enchanting place to visit.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Deep-rooted Legends, a Tender Love Story, and the Bear Lake Monster is focus of New Novel
Enter the world of “Make Believe” and read about the legend of the Bear Lake Monster, long family traditions, a tender love story, and a few mysterious events!
Scotland has the Lock Ness Monster and Bear Lake Valley has theirs. Do they really exist? The mystery of the Bear Lake Monster has been an exciting part of Idaho history since the early 1800s. David begins to wonder about this legend in “David and the Bear Lake Monster” (ISBN: 978-1-58982-532-1). As the waves splash gently upon the shore and the full moon shines brightly upon Bear Lake, a deep foreboding is in the air and the fawn, sipping from the lake, can sense it. His ears perk up and he stands still. Only the sounds of nature can be heard, but the deer senses that he is in danger and quickly darts away. A few feet from shore, the water abruptly parts and exposes a gigantic brown lump about 90-feet long. Water trickles down its sides as it floats in the stillness of the night.
Midwest Book Review wrote: “With a blend of romance, this deftly written historical fiction series is well deserving of a place in community library historical fiction collections.”
When David returns to the Robert’s family for a visit, he learns about the great Indian legend: the Bear Lake Monster. When he discovers people still believe in this legend, he sets out to prove that it doesn’t exist but the community is insulted that anyone would try to discredit something they have believed in for years. Their legend is sacred to them and part of Bear Lake history. Searching for true happiness, David is reunited with the Roberts family, trying to overcome his troubles! David quickly becomes one with the town and its folk. He finds himself entranced with one very special lady and ends up defending her honor several times. She isn’t like the average woman. Sarah is different. This beautiful and charming woman has a disability that no one seems to notice. He finds out that Sarah has gone through more trials than the average person. She teaches him the importance of not dwelling on the past and how to love life. After a few teases, tricks, and mischievous deeds, David begins to overcome his troubles. As time passes, he realizes he must now face the dilemma of choosing between his work and matters of the heart.
“David and the Bear Lake Monster will keep readers entertained right up to the last page,” wrote Kim Atchue-Cusella of Book Loons. “Linda Weaver Clarke creates another winner with this installment of her Family Saga in Bear Lake Valley series.”
Friday, July 24, 2009
Research—an Intricate Part of Writing
Historical fiction helps us to understand the past. It educates and entertains us at the same time. History books give us the facts, but historical fiction helps us to understand history in a special way. Leon Garfield said, "The historian, if honest, gives us a photograph; the storyteller gives us a painting."
Research is an important part of writing historical fiction or nonfiction. Learn everything you can about the area your story takes place, the time period, non-fictional characters, and historical facts you would like to add.
Find out everything you can about the area to both educate your readers and to make the setting feel real. While the reader can’t be there physically, they can be there mentally. If possible, go to the area you want to write about, walk around, and look at the historical buildings. If you can’t travel there, find pictures of that area, study books at the library or search the Internet. Description is very important in a story. Paint a picture like an artist, describing what you see and feel. Make the scenery believable by describing the crunching of pine needles beneath your feet or allow the reader to smell the pine trees in the forest.
When I did the research for my book, “Melinda and the Wild West,” I discovered that Butch Cassidy robbed the bank in Bear Lake, Idaho in 1896. The city of Montpelier had recorded the incident with great detail. I was thrilled and I knew right away I wanted to include this in my novel. But I had to do more research. Butch Cassidy was a non-fictional character. I had to find out what kind of person he was. I couldn’t portray him as something he wasn’t. I found that he had a great sense of humor, a quick wit, had a charming personality, and was a great leader. It didn’t take long before he had a bunch of loyal followers, who were called “The Wild Bunch.” He and his gang referred to themselves as the “Robin Hood of the West,” out to rob from the rich and give to the poor.
After much research I found that Bear Lake Valley had a lot of intriguing history between 1896 and 1925, so I turned my book into a series of five novels called “A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho.” In my research, I found that in the western part of the United States, the market for cattle was lucrative. Cattle rustling was a terrible problem in the West. I also learned that a ten-foot grizzly bear by the name of Old Ephraim roamed the mountains of Cache Valley and Bear Lake Valley, wreaking havoc everywhere he went. I learned that the Bear Lake Monster is an old Indian legend, and part of Bear Lake history. Many accounts were written about it, testifying to its reality. I also found out that women had to fight for the rights of equality. A woman was not encouraged to go to college or become anything more than a teacher or a nurse. She could not bob her hair or raise her hemlines without the threat of being fired from her job. When doing research, it makes the book come to life and it’s so much fun to imagine what things must have been like as we learn more about history.
Another important part of writing is using emotion. It’s the secret of holding a reader. By giving description of emotion, it helps the reader feel part of the story as if he were actually there himself. When emotion is left out of a story, we can feel let down. Emotion is part of our lives, so why ignore such an important element in a story?
It can be difficult, however, for an author to know exactly how the character feels unless he or she had been in a similar situation, and that’s where research comes in. After researching stories about people who have been faced with a similar situation, the author can describe the emotions of a character much better.
If a character were approached by a grizzly bear, how would that person react? These are questions that you must research. Read about other people’s accounts, so you can adequately describe your character’s feelings during a situation.
In my novel, Melinda and the Wild West, Melinda is faced with danger when she startles a grizzly in the wild. What were her innermost feelings? How did she feel when the grizzly growled and began to lunge toward her? The author must show how Melinda felt, describe her quickening pulse, rather than simply say she was frightened.
After much research, this was how Melinda’s experience turned out: “Melinda heard an irritated grunt as the grizzly raised its head and saw her standing off in the distance. The grizzly snarled with anger as if warning her to leave. Then, almost immediately, it let out a hideous growl and leapt clumsily toward her. Its enormous jaws were spread wide and its eyes were flashing fire. She had never seen anything so frightening in her life.
“Fear overtook her and Melinda could not retain adequate presence of mind. Her chest tightened and her face drained as she tried to catch her breath. She panicked and quickly turned and ran as fast as she could go. Her heart was pounding rapidly with each step she took. She felt as if she were running in slow motion. Surely this was a dream. No, it was more like a nightmare. Suddenly, to her horror, she lost her balance as she tripped over a rock and fell face down on the ground in a cushion of soft weeds and mud.
“Melinda began to scream. She had never seen such a hideous sight before and she became paralyzed with fear. The feeling of terror that rose in her throat made it hard to breathe and she began to shake uncontrollably.”
I didn’t “tell” the reader about an incident, but I helped the reader connect to the emotion inside her soul. Emotions of a character can help us feel satisfied because we can understand what the character feels. Melinda is the heroine of the book, so the reader knows that she won’t be killed. But at the same time, the reader begins to worry that something just might happen to her. That’s what emotion does to the reader.
Research is an important part of writing. Learn all you can about the area, any non-fictional characters, and the time period. Remember: “The storyteller gives us a painting."
Research is an important part of writing historical fiction or nonfiction. Learn everything you can about the area your story takes place, the time period, non-fictional characters, and historical facts you would like to add.
Find out everything you can about the area to both educate your readers and to make the setting feel real. While the reader can’t be there physically, they can be there mentally. If possible, go to the area you want to write about, walk around, and look at the historical buildings. If you can’t travel there, find pictures of that area, study books at the library or search the Internet. Description is very important in a story. Paint a picture like an artist, describing what you see and feel. Make the scenery believable by describing the crunching of pine needles beneath your feet or allow the reader to smell the pine trees in the forest.
When I did the research for my book, “Melinda and the Wild West,” I discovered that Butch Cassidy robbed the bank in Bear Lake, Idaho in 1896. The city of Montpelier had recorded the incident with great detail. I was thrilled and I knew right away I wanted to include this in my novel. But I had to do more research. Butch Cassidy was a non-fictional character. I had to find out what kind of person he was. I couldn’t portray him as something he wasn’t. I found that he had a great sense of humor, a quick wit, had a charming personality, and was a great leader. It didn’t take long before he had a bunch of loyal followers, who were called “The Wild Bunch.” He and his gang referred to themselves as the “Robin Hood of the West,” out to rob from the rich and give to the poor.
After much research I found that Bear Lake Valley had a lot of intriguing history between 1896 and 1925, so I turned my book into a series of five novels called “A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho.” In my research, I found that in the western part of the United States, the market for cattle was lucrative. Cattle rustling was a terrible problem in the West. I also learned that a ten-foot grizzly bear by the name of Old Ephraim roamed the mountains of Cache Valley and Bear Lake Valley, wreaking havoc everywhere he went. I learned that the Bear Lake Monster is an old Indian legend, and part of Bear Lake history. Many accounts were written about it, testifying to its reality. I also found out that women had to fight for the rights of equality. A woman was not encouraged to go to college or become anything more than a teacher or a nurse. She could not bob her hair or raise her hemlines without the threat of being fired from her job. When doing research, it makes the book come to life and it’s so much fun to imagine what things must have been like as we learn more about history.
Another important part of writing is using emotion. It’s the secret of holding a reader. By giving description of emotion, it helps the reader feel part of the story as if he were actually there himself. When emotion is left out of a story, we can feel let down. Emotion is part of our lives, so why ignore such an important element in a story?
It can be difficult, however, for an author to know exactly how the character feels unless he or she had been in a similar situation, and that’s where research comes in. After researching stories about people who have been faced with a similar situation, the author can describe the emotions of a character much better.
If a character were approached by a grizzly bear, how would that person react? These are questions that you must research. Read about other people’s accounts, so you can adequately describe your character’s feelings during a situation.
In my novel, Melinda and the Wild West, Melinda is faced with danger when she startles a grizzly in the wild. What were her innermost feelings? How did she feel when the grizzly growled and began to lunge toward her? The author must show how Melinda felt, describe her quickening pulse, rather than simply say she was frightened.
After much research, this was how Melinda’s experience turned out: “Melinda heard an irritated grunt as the grizzly raised its head and saw her standing off in the distance. The grizzly snarled with anger as if warning her to leave. Then, almost immediately, it let out a hideous growl and leapt clumsily toward her. Its enormous jaws were spread wide and its eyes were flashing fire. She had never seen anything so frightening in her life.
“Fear overtook her and Melinda could not retain adequate presence of mind. Her chest tightened and her face drained as she tried to catch her breath. She panicked and quickly turned and ran as fast as she could go. Her heart was pounding rapidly with each step she took. She felt as if she were running in slow motion. Surely this was a dream. No, it was more like a nightmare. Suddenly, to her horror, she lost her balance as she tripped over a rock and fell face down on the ground in a cushion of soft weeds and mud.
“Melinda began to scream. She had never seen such a hideous sight before and she became paralyzed with fear. The feeling of terror that rose in her throat made it hard to breathe and she began to shake uncontrollably.”
I didn’t “tell” the reader about an incident, but I helped the reader connect to the emotion inside her soul. Emotions of a character can help us feel satisfied because we can understand what the character feels. Melinda is the heroine of the book, so the reader knows that she won’t be killed. But at the same time, the reader begins to worry that something just might happen to her. That’s what emotion does to the reader.
Research is an important part of writing. Learn all you can about the area, any non-fictional characters, and the time period. Remember: “The storyteller gives us a painting."
Friday, July 17, 2009
Welcome to the World of Make Believe
Many times our every day lives can overwhelm us and we desperately need a break. Being a wife, homemaker, and mother can be a challenge and some days we feel discouraged. That’s the time when we would like to enter the world of Make-Believe. Perhaps after we do the dishes, change a diaper, and put our children down for a nap, we may have a couple hours to read a novel and slip into that make-believe world; a world of escape when our frustrations are high and we desperately need a break and a place to relax so we can be ready for the next go-around with our children.
In that little corner is a world that can fill us with wonder, where dreams can come true, where we can go on an intriguing adventure, or we can even fall in love all over again...reminding us of the first time we fell in love with our husbands. Lucy Montgomery said, “While solitude with dreams is glorious, solitude without them has few charms.” Jerome Kern expressed it differently. He wrote, “The game of just supposing is the sweetest game I know. Our dreams are more romantic than the world we see.”
Perhaps the world we see is full of dirty dishes, soiled diapers, teenagers arguing over an item that was recently borrowed, and busy husbands that forget to give us a kiss before they walk out the door. This can make a homemaker feel discouraged. Times like this are when we would like to enter the World of Make-Believe.
How many times have you wished to go on an adventure in the jungles of South America, follow Harry Potter into a magical world, or to fall in love all over again? We need to be reminded of that romantic love. Novels are a “god-send” and can give us that extra little “umph” that we need. They can also teach us and remind us where our priorities should be, reminding us to not take our relationships for granted.
My husband and I share the household duties because he knows that his help gives me more time to do the things I would like to do. Once my husband walked into the living room and collapsed on the sofa. His eyes looked weary and his body was tired. When I greeted him, I was tired as well. I had had a long day with the kids, I was pregnant, and the children had not been complete angels. But something happened between us that made me realize what kind of relationship we really had.
Our relatives were visiting when my husband wearily said, "Would you mind unlacing my shoelaces? I'm too tired to bend over."
I didn't mind, so I carefully sat on the floor and adjusted my protruding belly, and then undid his shoelaces. One of the relatives scoffed and said, "He can undo his own shoelaces. Don't you know about Women's Liberation? We're liberated from such demeaning tasks as this."
I just smiled patiently and said, "I do for him what he would do for me.” We give and take in our marriage. He cooks when I'm tired and I undo his shoelaces when he's tired. I believe relationships are founded on compromise and love.
Many times we can forget our priorities in life. In fact, some novels can help us remember our priorities when we are so dogged tired, wondering if we were destined to change diapers and clean house for the rest of our lives.
In my novel, “Melinda and the Wild West,” we can imagine how it feels when Gilbert gazes warmly at Melinda, admiring her integrity and studying her face, as if memorizing every contour of it. We can imagine how it feels when he impulsively lifts her chin and presses his warm lips to hers, making her heart swell within. When Gilbert cradles Melinda in his arms and gazes into her eyes with adoring love, think of the adoring love you have for the man you married and how your love is greater now than the first day of your marriage. When he cooks for you or watches the children so you can have a halcyon day to yourself, be grateful for his help. Appreciate what he does for you and then plan a romantic get-away once in a while. Then you will remember what it was like to be in love and all your frustrations leave as we sigh and close the novel, just waiting to pick it up when we have time the following day.
Just remember that “if the things we dream about don’t happen to be so, that’s just an unimportant technicality.” (Jerome Kern) The happy ending in the novels you read can happen if you only let it. Life is worth living and will become what we make of it. Just remember to pick up a novel and take some time for yourself and “Make-Believe.”
In that little corner is a world that can fill us with wonder, where dreams can come true, where we can go on an intriguing adventure, or we can even fall in love all over again...reminding us of the first time we fell in love with our husbands. Lucy Montgomery said, “While solitude with dreams is glorious, solitude without them has few charms.” Jerome Kern expressed it differently. He wrote, “The game of just supposing is the sweetest game I know. Our dreams are more romantic than the world we see.”
Perhaps the world we see is full of dirty dishes, soiled diapers, teenagers arguing over an item that was recently borrowed, and busy husbands that forget to give us a kiss before they walk out the door. This can make a homemaker feel discouraged. Times like this are when we would like to enter the World of Make-Believe.
How many times have you wished to go on an adventure in the jungles of South America, follow Harry Potter into a magical world, or to fall in love all over again? We need to be reminded of that romantic love. Novels are a “god-send” and can give us that extra little “umph” that we need. They can also teach us and remind us where our priorities should be, reminding us to not take our relationships for granted.
My husband and I share the household duties because he knows that his help gives me more time to do the things I would like to do. Once my husband walked into the living room and collapsed on the sofa. His eyes looked weary and his body was tired. When I greeted him, I was tired as well. I had had a long day with the kids, I was pregnant, and the children had not been complete angels. But something happened between us that made me realize what kind of relationship we really had.
Our relatives were visiting when my husband wearily said, "Would you mind unlacing my shoelaces? I'm too tired to bend over."
I didn't mind, so I carefully sat on the floor and adjusted my protruding belly, and then undid his shoelaces. One of the relatives scoffed and said, "He can undo his own shoelaces. Don't you know about Women's Liberation? We're liberated from such demeaning tasks as this."
I just smiled patiently and said, "I do for him what he would do for me.” We give and take in our marriage. He cooks when I'm tired and I undo his shoelaces when he's tired. I believe relationships are founded on compromise and love.
Many times we can forget our priorities in life. In fact, some novels can help us remember our priorities when we are so dogged tired, wondering if we were destined to change diapers and clean house for the rest of our lives.
In my novel, “Melinda and the Wild West,” we can imagine how it feels when Gilbert gazes warmly at Melinda, admiring her integrity and studying her face, as if memorizing every contour of it. We can imagine how it feels when he impulsively lifts her chin and presses his warm lips to hers, making her heart swell within. When Gilbert cradles Melinda in his arms and gazes into her eyes with adoring love, think of the adoring love you have for the man you married and how your love is greater now than the first day of your marriage. When he cooks for you or watches the children so you can have a halcyon day to yourself, be grateful for his help. Appreciate what he does for you and then plan a romantic get-away once in a while. Then you will remember what it was like to be in love and all your frustrations leave as we sigh and close the novel, just waiting to pick it up when we have time the following day.
Just remember that “if the things we dream about don’t happen to be so, that’s just an unimportant technicality.” (Jerome Kern) The happy ending in the novels you read can happen if you only let it. Life is worth living and will become what we make of it. Just remember to pick up a novel and take some time for yourself and “Make-Believe.”
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