If you’ve had a chance to read my books, then it will be no secret that I love stories that have a message, or what I call, “little nuggets” for a reader to find. When I come across books (or movies) like that, I will cherish them forever.
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It’s also no secret I love Disney movies. Most of them. One came out late last year that has a lot of people talking. The music is lively and you can’t help but at least do a shoulder dance, if not shaking your thing across the living room or while you’re cooking in the kitchen.

Well, I didn't win. But I did win.

Ha! 

Read on to find out what craziness I'm talking about now. 

Eeeish....

This first week didn't start off as I'd hoped, but read on to see how things went as the story gained traction, despite life's little interruptions. 

This past month, I've been gearing up to start writing Reborn of Ashes Book 3 of the Phoenix Province Trilogy.  I've been trying to write this story, but life and other circumstances have kept me from getting started. 

And then, here comes my favorite writerly event of the year... TheNaNoWriMo challenge. Yes, 50,000 words in one month. Not just any month, either. It's Thanksgiving and the start of the holiday season month!
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All writers have that special place where we spin our stories. Some writers enjoy moving about while others need to have one dedicated spot or they can't find the right vibe. I'm somewhere in between. While I have a special place to write, plan, and all that stuff, I still enjoy moving around, sitting on the porch, or visiting a coffee shop. 

Still, I wanted my special spot to be a little over the top. A place that would inspire my mind to travel down those wooded paths and to envision those fantastical creatures. Click the read more to see a few more snippets of my crazy little workspot.

Yes, there are vines and flowers hanging from the ceiling. Oh, I'm just getting started. My goal is to have the whole room covered in lights and greenery. 

Around the holidays, I always keep my eyes open for fun little ornaments: mermaids, unicorns, dancing hippos and little gnomes. Dragons and centaurs guard my book shelves. Butterflies and birds perch along the vines. It's fun and makes me smile. 

I could have one of those pretty, in style rooms, but that simply isn't me. Nope, not at all. I like different, quirky, and unusual. 

So I did a fun little thing. I created a coloring book. 
This first coloring book is actually a journaling coloring book. There are pages full of inspirational sayings and scriptures, alongside pages where you can journal your thoughts and dreams. 

In a world full of confusion and discord, I wanted to create something that would encourage people to smile and think about uplifting and good things. 

Though I love writing full-fledged inspirational fantasy novels, I have these little stories that I've been hanging on to for years now.

I've always thought it would be fun to write and illustrate picture books. Did you know that I was not only a teacher's aid in an elementary school, but I used to run the children's ministry at my church back in it's early years.? I'm amazed over this, too. Ha! 

During that time, when I was first called back to write stories, I'd get these silly little stories that would sometimes hit me at the oddest times. (Usually in the middle of the night, as usual)  So, I'd get up in the morning and write them down. When our church was just a small gathering, the pastor would let me read these stories to everyone. 

The kids enjoyed them. So did some of the adults. 

That was quite nerve-wracking, let me tell you. But I learned something at that time. I learned that I could say things in stories that touched people's hearts. Even helped them at times. I learned the effectiveness of telling a parable. 

Sheep's Tale, was the first one to come to me.