A Novel Creation www.WatersWords.com

I have had a crazy, wild, and wonderful week! It all started as I finished writing my second novel. I’m calling it Shirley’s Cuppa Joe for now. Of course publishers have the final say in titles so who knows what its name will be in the end. I am being very optimistic. I haven’t even pitched it to a publishing house yet. But I like it. For now that is enough. I hope to go to a writing conference in Wheaton, Illinois next week. We’ll see. As I said, I have had a crazy, wild, and wonderful week.  I had just finished the first complete draft my book. Our daughter in Wisconsin called to tell us she was ready to have her baby. We arrived in plenty of time to welcome our sixth grandchild into the world on Tuesday. They named her Rebekah. I am so honored. Rebekah Jolene Then on the following Monday, our youngest daughter who lives in Ohio gave birth to our seventh grandchild. They named her Jolene. Our family is exploding numerically and I am feeling this cons...

I have been in the field of education for a long time. Before I decided to turn my pen to writing novels, I wrote professional education pieces and more lesson plans than I can count. I’ve been around long enough to see the recursive nature of curriculum development. I left my position at Cincinnati Christian University just as the National Common Core Standards were beginning to become part of the everyday language of teachers and teacher education departments. And, “ no ,” to the teachers out there who are wondering if I left because of the common core. As I said, I have been in the field long enough to see curriculum swing, spiral, and spin. Change seems to be the only constant in education. So what does this have to do with writing a novel? Out of curiosity, I began searching the internet for ways teachers are teaching writing and/or literacy using the common core standards. I found numerous references to tools such as story maps and timelines, topic summaries a...

If you have read my blog you know that the main character in my new book is a young woman who owns a coffee shop in Door County, Wisconsin. She is an only child and very close to her parents. It grieves me to tell you her dad had a heart attack. He’s okay. Or will be. But he is going to have to change his lifestyle. When Sonja read through the documents concerning his nutrition she had some misgivings. Well, here, read it for yourself: The next morning Annette and Sonja poured over the pamphlets a nurse in the cardio unit had given them regarding Daniel’s future care. “No sodium, no cholesterol, no fat? How about no taste?” Sonja laughed. “I’m thinking Daddy will never be able to eat anything I cook again.” “I’m going to have to learn how to cook all over,” Annette mused. “And no more pizza nights. He’s not going to like this.” I know how Annette and Sonja feel. My own husband had a heart attack. Like the characters in my book, I had to learn how to “cook al...

I worked in the field of education for over 34 years. After a stint as a preschool teacher, I taught in an elementary school for nineteen years. After I had completed my doctoral work at the University of Cincinnati, I served as a professor of teacher education at Cincinnati Christian University. I worked at the college for fourteen years and one semester. I was a teacher first and then a teacher of teachers. Now I am a writer. It struck me this past week when I was talking with a new neighbor. He said, “So do you work?” Without reservation I simply said, “I am a writer.” I told him I write some freelance and have a contract for my first novel. He and his wife were interested. They asked me questions about my book, Breathing on Her Own , and promised to buy a copy when it comes out next year. I told them about my newest project and about the story coming out in Chicken Soup for the Soul 20 th Anniversary Edition: Readers Choice this June. What is remarkable ...

I asked Karen Wingate, a fellow writer and friend to be a guest on my blog today. At first, Karen said, "What could I write about? Persevering?" That is exactly what I asked her to do. I think you will find her insights inspirational. Be sure to check out Karen's blog "Grace on Parade." I will return next week...and hopefully, you will have me back!  The Art of Persevering  by Karen Wingate I'm an award winning author. Yes, sirree! Two years ago, at a writer's conference, I won the "Turtle Award" for the person who has waited the longest to have a book published. The fact is, I'm still waiting.  I had the seed of an idea for a unique approach to Christian education curriculum thirteen years ago. One company was interested but wanted it morphed into their structure.  No problem.  I changed my idea and wrote three books. I got paid and was told my books would be published the next year, then the next, then the ...