Sorry I have been away

There have been lots of things that have kept me from here. Family death, moving divorce, regrouping finding myself lost and not knowing where to turn or what to do. But thanks to a vblog on you tube I found myself inspired to write again. I will be revamping this blog as well as Connecting to the soul and start 2018 new and fresh.  Hope you will join me in the new year. see you next year.... Well maybe not that long, but I will be working on a few stories to publish here next year hope to see you there.

What's in a name

When I named this blog I didn't  realize how true it was.  I have been a quiet writer for a while. And that I am sorry. Right now I am busy editing a ghost story called Marla the Ghost writer book one of a (hopefully) 4 book series. But I can only write and edit one book at a time Right? 

The book I am currently writing right now  is called Airport Layover. But that title WILL CHANGE after writing. It's a rewrite of a story I wrote years ago called secrets. As I write this newer one I am seeing that Secrets is the back story of this one. Which is perfect for this story. When I get stuck on the current one I can refer to the older one to add to this one. Can you say Perfect?  

By the end of this month that book will be ready to be sent to bata readers and others to edit it so I can get it ready for publication.

I will be back with an update soon.


 

From Future learn assignments Finding a Voice

Her background

January 16, 2017

Emma said that…. “often times the attics of empty abandoned homes held the most treasure.” If you were quiet long enough she continued talking. “You never know what you would find if you explored them after buying them.” She knew this to be fact because when she bought her place that was the first thing she explored- the attic.

          

     End of assignment. But continuing on my own

Seems Emma had been in this small quaint town for most of her life and she knew everyone or made it her business to know them. She was sorta the town historian…. But to the tourists she was just nosy. Always waiting at the dock as the fairy came in with a new group. She said she was the welcoming committee but after a few complains the mayor was getting ready to put a stop to her being there or at the very least curb her questions by having someone go with her from his office to stop her when she went too far.

Emma was born in this town and lived here all of her life. She was the one who saw to it her parents saw a proper burial. Then she moved into their house, selling hers. She wanted to be close to them and this was the only way she knew to do that.

She never married and most who knew of her wondered why. She would laugh and saw there was no one who came close to being like her daddy, and she stopped looking after a while. A Year after her parents died those closest to her had begun to get worried because she was now becoming depressed more and more. Never wanting to get out of bed or go anywhere. Even those who ran the fairy bringing the tourists to and fro missed seeing her.

Joan, who had been her best friend since grade school, knew how much she missed her parents when they died. But it wasn’t until Emma’s neighbor saw her at the café later that week did she know how bad it had affected her. As she sat in the café sipping her first cup of coffee she reflected back on what she had heard. Joan wondered how she was going to talk with her friend about what she heard. She knew he friend would listen out of loyalty, shoot maybe she really didn’t know where to turn or what to do.

After all, if it was her, she would hope someone cared enough to say something.

From Future learn... Radio Story

His background

January 16, 2017

“The rain is coming down tonight… I am smiling. But why am I smiling, I hate rain. Because with it comes possible lightning and thunder and other things that you cannot see in the dark.  As I think about it I have not liked rain since I was a kid.”

“But why Jackie what is it really about rain that scares you?” The woman said sitting in the chair next to me. “After all rain does help trees, flowers, and grass grow.  And it keeps the dust on windy days from blowing everywhere making it hard to see.”

“Alright several good points. I don’t know what it is about these days that bother me, they just do.”

“Okay so they bother you, but every time it rains you fall apart and call me the next day. Don’t you want to not do that? Don’t you want to…”

“Are you saying you would rather me not call when these days happen?” Jackie said sitting up now looking at the woman.

“No not at all but wouldn’t you rather not have to call because you don’t fear it anymore? You have no idea what a relief it is to face a fear because you have learned to overcome it.” She answered setting her pen on the notepad she had been writing on. 

After a moment of thought Jackie sat back exhaling. “Well yea of course but I don’t see how I can overcome this fear I have of rain.”

‘You can’t see how right now because all you know is fear. But once you start work on conquering it, it will not control you.”  The woman said sounding rather sure that this would be the case. How did she know?

For a moment we just sat in silence. I don’t know why she was quiet but I found myself thinking how nice it would be to overcome this problem. She may have been quiet allowing me time to contemplate whether I wanted to get rid of this fear or not. It would be nice to not be afraid when it rained.

Since I was unaware of just how much time had passed, she spoke up softly so as not to startle me in case I was deep in thought.  “We have 10 more minutes can you share what you have been thinking?

After a moment more I just looked up and into her eyes “what makes you think I was thinking of anything?” 

“You look like you were far away and lost in thought.”

“Oh okay. Well I was just having a conversation with myself about this fear about the rain. How can I be in the line of work I’m in if I can’t leave my house when it threatens to rain.”

She looked back over her notes. “ I can’t find it off hand what do you do for a living?”

“I am an exterminator. I am supposed to eliminate unwanted pests.”

End of assignment

Stories... inspired by futurelearn

Good Evening everyone  so glad you stopped by. I originally created a specific website for these however what ever could go wrong did. It was more trouble posting a story each week than I thought. And suddenly it dawned on me I had a blag for stories already created soooo um why not use it?  So the following stories and entries will be the stories which were inspired by the course I am taking.  We are currently in week 3. So there will be3 new pieces.  With just a touch is going to be a short story. But there will be a few entries that there will be other stories between the story "With just a touch but they will be marked.

I hope you enjoy these stories and story starters that we were asked to do and come back time and time again.


Thanks

My Phrase for the New Year

As I sit here sipping my first cup of coffee I reflect back over last year and the many things that happened. None of them I would wish on anyone. Divorce surgery death relocation starting over. But then isnt that what we do New Year?  Start over often with new goals, new people in our lives new places.

For some they begin making these plans these goals these resolutions just after Christmas or shortly  after. Then on January 1st they start talking about them. Well for me that time of year was too fast and filled with other things I just didn’t have any time to start a list. Yet I knew what I wished would change but was unable to get them down on paper. Now a week into the new year I am putting them on here.

I only have one real goal, and that is to pick one of the 33 plus stories i have started and stay with it until I finish it. So as I look through them I carefully read each one and see which one moves me which one is one I am interested in staying with until the end?  

I have 3 first drafts that have ‘the end’  written on them and of those there is one I want to work on until complete.  Then I will move to the next one and so on.

The author of one of the blog’s I follow doesn’t make resolutions instead she chooses a word or phrase  for the year and then works  with that word in mind. So I think I am going to try and do that this year. So after much thought my word is….. Either complete or finish. By the end of the day I will choose  But this can be turned into  a phrase by saying “ I am going to pick one story and complete it until it is finished!”

Actually that sounds good,,,” This year I am going to seriously look through my stories and choose the one that I want to work with and stay with until I finish it and it is complete.” Thats a rather long sentence but it is a declaration… I am  going to choose a story and continue to work on it until I finish and complete it  so it sports the words  “ The End” at the end. Now to figure out which one. Stay tuned for the name of that story.

Thank you Kelly  Exeter for her idea you  will find her  blog here 

lhttp://kellyexeter.com.au/one-word-for-2017-why

May your pen remained filled with ink so you can write your story.

Until Next Time……

New Years Writing Goals

Well it is a new yea and for writers everywhere its time to think about new writing goals. Thanks to The Write Practice, my favorite writing go to for all things writing site, I began thinking about what my new year writing goals were. After reading their latest post "11 Reasons you need to write a book Now"  Which you can find here http://thewritepractice.com/write-a-book-now/ . I began thinking of what I wanted to accomplish as a writer.

While I have a few books already written and on Amazon, I want to do more and add to my collection,  stretch my knowledge and see where else my writing can go. I have at least 33 stories written and only a handful completed, there are other stories I wanna tell. My problem is they all want to be told . I have placed them all in a hat and drew one or two out and while that worked then its time to select something to do this year. And this time I am going to finish the story, as well as engage in other writing practices like taking classes or workshops to help enhance my writing.

 I have always believed if you stop learning you stop . Period.  So I am not going to stop learning.   After looking through the many stories I have there are only a few that are complete first drafts. One of those is entitled Abandoned Car. The idea first came to me when I was in high school. Years later I took the story out and began editing it thus changing the name to Mistaken Identity which would be part one of a two part story. So the stories I think I am going to work on  now are as follows


Nonfiction

 One story I want to tell is how I survived child abuse and how that led to who I am now.

Two is how recent events in my life over the last year changed my life.


Fiction

 (inspired by true life events)

Working title Jason and Lisa  Crime story

 Mistaken Identity pt 1
 Family heirloom  pt 2 
 and Cameras View murder mystery


Now to put these on my calendar as well as let others know about them.

If you read this and want to know how I am doing or want to add your own writing goals please leave a comment,


Thanks,  till next time

Nano update

Sorry it has been more than a week since I updated you guys . I have had some up and down days and for the most part the story is going good. Although it has changed several times, I am still writing it. Fortunately or unfortunately that can be a good thing, keeps me on my toes. I am doing word sprints with the virtual write ins with Nano virtual write ins and through their sight.

I am over 13,000 words so far and am still going strong. It is a murder mystery instead of a western. The story seemed to change as I wrote this month, go figure.... And as with all nano / first drafts it will have to be  re written but the story is there.... I am loving it... talk to you all soon....  write on

Nano is apart of me

Well its the actual night before nanowrimo, heart and  stomachs are all a flutter waiting til the stroke of midnight where  we can actually release the story we have so diligently been planning, creating and outlining all month long.  Over at nanowrimo site they have been equally busy making preparations for all of us who will gather there in the month ( and months that follow November. 

My story was originally thought of as just western but now it has turned into a mystery, but after breaking it apart has tuned into a missing persons mystery set in simpler times.  There were no cars, just horses and buggies, women wore long skirts and the  men worked hard on their lands or in the other things that helped make money and the land great. 

Almost like Little House which I so love/ loved watching. 

The working title and may be the actual title when done is Molly's Journey and is about a woman who sets out  to find her twin when she learns she is missing.

I hope you come back for updates

Nanoeve

Yes that is a holiday, should be a national holiday but what do I know.... However  for the countless - and I do mean countless writers out there this is the busiest month of the year. That's because during November millions and millions of people from all over the world get together and write a novel together. As together as you can via the internet.

I am also partaking in this undertaking as well and will be posting snippets of my story here. I wrote this story a few nano's ago and am working to rewrite it and this year finish it.  It is about a young woman who works to help women who are going through or have gone through  marital abuse and have escaped.

On my way back

 It has been 9 months  since I have been compelled to write here, or any where for that matter. But this year is teaching me a lot of things about myself and those things I will be sharing on connecting to the the soul starting tomorrow , but  am also working on a book that  shares  what I have been discovering about myself this year that I didnt expect to learn. it will be called Strength from within. and will be sharing the lives of three different people all dealing with issues and the challenges they have to overcome to recover. Yes it is fiction but using the  real life issues I have faced. 

 So until tomorrow  have a great day.

A Move to New Website

Hello everyone, hope your New Years  Eve was a good and safe one.  I have great news as a New Years goal with the aid of a friend I have created and moved to a new website and blog and here it is. http://in-ventures.com/wp/debrajohnson/  There is still much to do there but here  you can read my blog as well as stay up to the minute with upcoming  books and when they will be available.

This past  year has seen so many changes to my path is a nice fresh start.

I hope you all will come  along to see what new and exciting things are happening in my world   Here's to a wonderful New Year.

Lifes curve balls

Recently I began this blog to share my thoughts on writing and other short pieces. Well recently my husband has been diagnosed with lung cancer, and the blogs and web sites that I have started and found to be the center of my life have taken  a slight back seat.

While I am still writing so I am not hoovering over my husband, the projects I am working on have changed. Marla will still be worked on, however Father God I believe has led me into a new direction with my writing.

The project I will be placing front and center is called "strength from within" and consists of three stories where thru the Almighty power of God the characters within this story find the strength they did not know they had when they began to trust on God.

Psalm 46:1 Message

 "God is a safe place to hide ready to help when we need him."


Regardless of  what happens in my life God is always there to lead me back to his open arms.
 

New Project almost complete

Hello, life can be so funny and so unpredictable sometimes. I'm so sorry this is late getting out. But never fail here is this weeks installment.   Every year I attempt Nanowrimo and while sometimes I can complete the 50,000 words there are years I do not.  My confession is  often times I will add bits and pieces of stories which absolutely make no sense just to reach that goal. I know - that's really bad. 

But this year I attempted to do nano again, but didn't finish this year. However I did learn something- well a few things this year. One it's okay if you don't finish with 50,000 words. After all that's a lot of words, and some just can't do that and that's okay. Two, I am a short story writer, My stories may reach 20,000 total. If I want to create a 50,000 word story I simply add several short stories of the same genre between the covers.  And finally joining several unfinished short stories that never made it to the end by themselves is working this time. 

I have found my voice as they say, I have dug deep enough to find something that is working, and I am loving my story and characters and am really enjoying writing this story.  To me that's what matters. I lost my way for a while, focusing on all the wrong things when I should have been reminding myself I needed to write these stories for me. If I enjoy them as a writer you will ( hopefully) enjoy them as a reader. 

Currently my new project's working title is called Marla and she is very much like me in that she is a writer who is working to find her style, her voice and her passion as a writer, and she has with a story called "The Storm" I am only 3,000 words away from being able to officially call it a short story.  

After it is done, I will let you know when and where you can find it with its blub. 

The Red Chair Chapter 2

Walking into my house with the chair in tow I quickly found a place that was similar to where the chair rested in my grandma’s home. The color matched my decor as if it was meant to go there. After everyone went to bed I was faced to face with the chair and the memories that it evoked. As I stood there facing the chair a smile soon crossed my face as visions of my grandma appeared sitting in the chair.

She looked the same as she did when I last saw her, with short greying curls soft eyes and a smile.  She wore house slippers a blouse she had made and a pair of blue slakes. As I stood there she was looking right at me.  “Well don’t just stand there child come take a seat.” Her arms were outstretched as she waited.

Not knowing what else to do I stepped closer and took a seat at her feet as I did so many times growing up, and the moment I did I was transported back to my childhood.

“It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other, what brings you back now?”

“I’ve been sent to give you a message.”

 “Really? What about?” I drew the footstool closer and waited for her to continue.

“This.” I followed my grandma’s arm as she pointed to the couch.

Before my eyes I saw a woman holding a baby. “That’s you as you started your life.” My grandma continued as the scenes came and went. There were scenes such as parental divorce, some bullying, bad decisions which led to unwanted pregnancies or miscarriages, fear of telling your parents about what’s going on in your life. Even the abuse by boyfriends, and other minor things that brought you here.” Your grandma continued.

“But what does that have to do with the message you have for me now?”

“Because you have been wondering why you are experiencing these things. Because God has great plans for you. Read Jeremiah 29:11 ‘God tells you that he knows the plans he has for you to do good and not harm.’ So just regardless of what happens in your life, God will use it for His glory. When your time comes to help others you will have an idea of what others have been thru and be the one to step in where no one else can.  Just have faith.

 Moments later the image of her grandma vanished and she was again alone in her living room with the thoughts she was left with.

Question for readers. If you would like to see a chapter 3 with stories of how She helps others please leave a comment with your thoughts.

Short story - The Red Chair- Chapter 1

                                               The Red Chair

The red chair which sat in the corner was the only thing that remained when everything else changed, as I looked closer at the chair I noticed it wasn’t just a red chair. The chair was the very same one that was in my grandma’s home. I know the chair was the same because I secretly carved my name in the wood on the back leg. I don’t know why I carved my name it was just a kid thing back then.

Maybe I because when I became an adult I might come across it and remember doing it as a child.  I was now standing face to face with a part of my history and a decision to make. At what cost do I bring a part of my past home? At what cost do I bring the past into the present and possibly open wounds better left closed?

The longer I stood there the more the memories of my childhood came back to me, as a smile formed on my lips. The many wonderful stories my grandmother told me as I sat on her lap, than at her feet when I grew older. How could I not continue that tradition with the children who crossed my path? My own or those I cared for over the years. I took a deep breath, looked at the men who stood next to me and led the charge to retrieve what was mine many years ago.  

Due to circumstances the next post will be Monday Dec 1. Sorry for any inconvenience