MIA Apology

First things first. I apologize for being MIA for so long. I have a good excuse, though. Several of them, in fact.

1. September 6 was my birthday. (Clue to my age - I'm just getting up to speed.)
2. September 7-8 was my birthday weekend.
3. September 9-12 I was preparing for . . .
4. September 13-15, which was the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) conference. (And I went to it!)
5. September 16 I worked on and sent some of the writing pieces requested by the agents and editors at the ACFW! (And in case you haven't guessed, that's a very good thing!) I also went to my monthly writing group. (Another very good thing.)
6. September 18 I was on a discussion panel in my role as a writer. The topic was how do I get scripture in me, and the that God uses Scripture in my writing to accomplish His work in mine. 
7. September 19 was when I heard back from someone who was a post-conference recipient of my writing samples. She wanted to see more! (I sent it!)
8. September 19-24 I have been working to finish the novel.

And in between has been all the ordinary, day-to-day, important stuff.

SO, that's my excuse. WHAT'S YOURS? If you stopped by my blog and I wasn't home, why didn't you leave a note? I'd love to hear from you.

Anyway, what the majority of that list means is that it looks like I may be taking the first steps toward finding a publisher!

That's all I have time to post right now. I've been thinking, though, and I'll have more to say SOON!

An Author in Training - poem

Let Me Be Your Home ©

Let me be your home
Your soft place to land
Let me be your shelter when the storms are close at hand

Let me be your home
Be your safe retreat
When life gives you bitter, let me help to make it sweet

Let me your home
Let me be your friend
I give my word I'll stay with you until the very end

Let me be your home

An Author in Training - Another Excerpt (one of the last)

“Hello, Lovely Lady.”

Eva startled and looked around for the source of the unfamiliar voice. It wasn’t Aidaan's. It didn’t belong to Shaddai, either. She stood still on the path, waiting for the voice to speak again. Silence. Not even the twitter of a bird.

“Who are you?” Eva glanced around, trying to see some sign of the one accosting her “What do you want?” She lifted the branches of the nearby shrub and peered underneath. A melodic, silvery laugh echoed through the woods.

“Not there, Lovely One. I’m over here.”

She turned her head still searching for the source of the voice, just as the creature stepped onto the forest path. It was unusual looking, something she had never seen before in the garden. With elegant, long legs and a slender, elongated body it could have been mistaken for some graceful crossbreed dog. If it weren’t for the shimmering material covering its body. She took a step toward it, puzzled by its unusual appearance. Unconsciously, she reached out her hand, curious to know what its covering was. She felt a prickle on the back of her neck, something she had never experienced before. She hesitated, pulling her hand back to her side.

“Never fear, Beautiful Lady, your curiosity is natural. Touch. Examine. Enjoy."

The voice was friendly, soothing, almost melodic, and Eva felt herself relax. She looked more closely. The creature's muzzle was narrow and somewhat pointed, its eyes were large--a warm, liquid brown, with an almost magnetic pull.

"Who are you?" She blurted the question, and in the same instant, knew the answer. "You're He-Who-Will-Not-Sing!"

The creature shook its head sorrowfully. "Oh, my! Such a terrible name for such an innocent creature." It shook its head again. "My name," it said dramatically, "is Sypher, at your pleasure."