T.K. Ware: Everyone Is A Precious Jewel

Everyone's Story welcomes author T.K. Ware. Every now and then I meet someone very special when I'm not actively looking, and I know I was meant to not only happen across this person but to introduce him or her to others. It's my great pleasure to share T.K. to my viewing audience because T.K. openly encourages one in faith and writing and in these days, that's hard to come by. Please take a moment to read his uplifting words and say a hello. Do check out his Giveaway offer as well. We're both looking forward to hearing from you.

BookGiveaway:

T.K. is offering any 1 copy of 1 of his novels or devotionals to 1 randomly drawn commenter. The winner will be announced here on Friday, December 5th between 5-6 PM EST. To be entered in the Giveaway, please leave your contact information within your comment. 

Moment of Epiphany by T.K. Ware

You are uniquely created for a particular purpose. Every day we have an opportunity to live in blessedness. Many people are in pursuit of a superficial form of success. Success is more than the accumulation of material substance. Some people assume that the possession of millions will solidify their effort and substantiate their pursuit of success. Yes, money will render you a level of success, but success begins the moment you step out in faith.

We oftentimes minimize the small things we've accomplished and seek for a more glorious achievement. There are no insignificant achievements. But rather collectively they are the steps of your success. Buried deep within everyone is a previous jewel. A jewel that is unique and differs from everyone. That jewel is your gift. Your gift has the potential to unlock doors and to provide avenues of opportunity.

It’s unfair to measure your level of success based on another person’s possessions. Instead of watching other people walk through the door of success, get up off your hind part and walk through “YOUR” own door of success. This is more of a mental act than physical movement. Everything originates with thought. Everyone has a measure of creativity lingering inside, waiting to be accessed. The moment you believe in yourself, the spark is lit.

Some of the inventions we use on a day-to-day basis were created from an individual of like qualities, who believed in their self. Faith and fear cannot co-exist. Failure is not an option if you don't except it. Everything lies in the perception. It's never too late to begin afresh, focused with the right perspective. You were created with purpose and within that purpose is a gift waiting to be discovered. We are all gifted and can obtain a level of success. You must look at the image in the mirror and speak positive “REAL” declarations.

Make sure you stay within your measure of faith, and make sure that your physical efforts match the words of faith you are speaking. If someone declares that they are going to be the CEO of a company and never leaves the house to apply for any jobs, then surely that declaration is far-fetched. If you're seeking to write a novel, screenplay, song, or anything your heart desires, the first step is to believe in yourself and enter the genesis of that idea. The second thing is to make sure your “WORK-HABITS” matches your faith. And remember that a seed sown on good ground will reap a harvest. Sometimes our blessings come when we step out of selfishness and “BE” a blessing to others through our gifts.

T.K.'s Ah-hahs To Tweet:

Meet an encourager: Author T.K. Ware on Everyone’s Story #BookGiveaway (Tweet This)

Do your work habits match your faith? See what T.K. Ware @GospelWriter8 says. (Tweet This)

Author's Bio:

Tshombye Kentrell, T.K., Ware raised in Albany, Ga. A young man endowed with creativity and passion moved to the city of Macon Georgia, to continue his education. Upon graduation the creativity began to emerge. Tshombye would often times would drift away and find himself writing from the imagination that lingered within. This led to the creation of a Christian CD entitled “L.O.C” The Love of Christ.

As the years progressed, so did his creativity. Oftentimes Tshombye shared his faith with other students through a gift called “the spoken word.” This particular gift utilized word mingled with rhythm to display a gospel message. As the door to inspiration continued to open, Tshombye became drawn toward writing; which led to his inspired creations.

Author T.K. Ware is currently the Presidential Assistant with Poetry in Motion, a Christian organization that specializes in Christian poetry. Author T.K.Ware also landing a role in a Christian movie entitled “Writing Christmas Cool,” a move about a group of young people coming together to writing an inspiring song while dealing with diverse situations at home.

Best-Selling Author of "A Husband's Love" Other titles include: Caveat of Penitent, Web of Allure, Trial of Injustice, Run the Race: 31 Days of Inspiration.

Upcoming Titles: Portent of Eternity(Dec 2014) If I Could "A Son's Plea(Jan 2015) Battling&Overcoming Self(March 2015)

Places to Connect With T.K.: 
Blog
Goodreads
Twitter
Amazon

Susan Meissner: Taking Sailing Lessons From The Master Mariner

Everyone's Story is pleased to host this week author Susan Meissner. Although I've read several of Susan's novels and love them all, I was attracted to another blog some months ago when Susan was interviewed on her current novel A FALL OF MARIGOLDS, which I've since devoured. What caught my attention was that the premise centered on how two different women from two different time periods continued on in their lives despite tragedies; the one from the early 20th century was a nurse on Ellis Island, a place where my own relatives were processed into the US. I'm happy to say that I won Susan's BookGiveaway and couldn't resist asking her to guest on my blog. I'm overjoyed that she agreed. Please join me this week when Susan talks candidly about some emotions that most of us can relate to--and interestingly, feelings that her characters in MARIGOLDS are forced to confront. And, with the holidays upon us, please check out Susan's BookGiveaway offer, one I'm personally spicing up with my addition of CHRISTMAS TREASURES: A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES. Both Susan and I look forward to hearing from you.

BookGiveaway:

Susan is offering 1 copy of her new release, A FALL OF MARIGOLDS. The winner will be announced here on Friday, November 28th between 5-6 PM EST. To be entered in the Giveaway, please leave your contact information within your comment. 

***For an extra point in the contest for Susan's Giveaway PLUS the e-book Giveaway of the anthology I contributed in, CHRISTMAS TREASURES: A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES, indicate that you have LIKED (or have LIKED in the past) my (Elaine's) FaceBook Page in your comment. Thanks and GOOD LUCK!***

What Ships Are For by Susan Meissner

I am in a passionate love affair with words but I waited a long time to do anything really creative with my love for writing. I was 42 before I wrote my first book even though I had wanted to write a novel since I was a teenager. I had been too afraid. I’d been afraid I wasn’t up to the challenge, afraid no one would want to read any book of mine, afraid of failing.

I was no stranger to fear. I had terrible fears when I was a kid – all unfounded and all due to a highly active imagination, which I am glad I have now but which did not help me when I was younger.

I was afraid of up-and-down horses on carousels. I was afraid of sunflowers that were taller than me. I was afraid to learn to swim, to ride a bike, to roller skate, to go down a slide, and of blimps flying above me. I was afraid of the robot on Lost in Space, Mr. Bubble, Mr. Peanut, the Michelin Man and Mr. Clean.

Obviously, I have gotten over these childhood fears. I did finally learn Mr. Bubble wasn’t going to start talking to me in my bathtub and the Michelin Man wasn’t going to chase me down the street and suffocate me with his tire arms.

But since I had a pattern of fearing things, I just adapted what I was afraid of. And even though I’d had several high school teachers encourage me as a writer, one in particular who knew I had it within me to be a published novelist, when I became an adult, I decided that kind of writing was just going to be a hobby and it would only be for me.

When I turned 42, I was editor of a weekly newspaper. But I wasn’t happy. I was restless. I wasn’t writing what I really wanted to write. What was burning within me weren’t stories about five generations of yodelers and the bank’s new manager and the high school debate team’s stellar showing at state. I had these ideas for swimming in my head and I was doing nothing about them. It took the death of my beloved grandfather, my Papa, to show me that my life was half-over – I was exactly half his age when he died. I finally understood I would rather live with rejection than regret.

When I finally quit my job at the newspaper to write my first book, I had no idea if anyone would publish it, I just knew I was meant to do this and I was going to be restless until I did. God has wired all of us for some unique purpose. But we have to be brave enough to take risks with our passions and strengths (instead of keeping them safe inside us) if we’re going to find out what that purpose is. When the book was finished, it took a frustrating year to find a publisher willing to take a risk on it. But it did happen. That was in 2003 and I have been writing novels ever since.

There is a saying that goes like this. A ship is safe in the harbor. But that’s not what ships are for.

If you’re in a restless spot, may I encourage you to consider if you’ve been at anchor too long? The wide sea beckons you. If you don’t at least try to do your heart yearns for, your outcome is the same as failing. You may as well give it a go! Why not give it your best effort and see what God may do with it. Regret is heavy weight, friend. Rejection is the easier of the two.

I will close with this lovely quote by Luci Shaw: “The cliff edge of our anxiety about the future may indicate that God is calling us to a new and different level of faith. When we walk, praying for guidance, to the edge of all the light we have and breathlessly take that first step into the foggy mystery of the unknown, we must believe that one of two things will happen; either God will provide us with something rock-solid to land on and stand on, or He will teach us to fly.”

See you on the horizon.

Susan's Ah-hahs To Tweet:

On Everyone’s Story: How did @SusanMeissner benefit from fear? (Tweet This)

Is fear hindering your writing? Bestseller @SusanMeissner shares her story. (Tweet This)

Author Susan Meissner: #BookGiveaway of A FALL OF MARIGOLDS. (Tweet This)

Author's Bio:

Susan Meissner is a multi-published author, speaker and writing workshop leader with a background in community journalism. Her novels include A Fall of Marigolds, named by BookList’s Top Ten women’s fiction titles for 2014, and The Shape of Mercy, named by Publishers Weekly as one of the 100 Best Novels of 2008. She is a pastor’s wife and a mother of four young adults. When she's not working on a novel, Susan writes small group curriculum for her San Diego church.

Places to Connect With Susan: 

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Angela Breidenbach: You Can Do It. Why Not?

Everyone's Story welcomes back, and very warmly so, author Angela Breidenbach. Although Angela has guested twice on this blog and I've met her a couple of times at ACFW Conferences, we don't know each other very well . . . yet we do, having such striking similar family backgrounds. And, of course, our love of story. Please join Angela this week as she shares her love of story and how her dad played a special role in shaping the power of storytelling for Angela. Please check out the special BookGiveaway. Both Angela and I look forward to hearing from you.

BookGiveaway:

Angela is offering 1 e-copy of her new release, SNOWFLAKE TIARA. The winner will be announced here on Friday, November 21st between 5-6 PM EST. To be entered in the Giveaway, please leave your contact information within your comment. ***For an extra point in the contest, indicate that you have LIKED (or have LIKED in the past) both  Angela’s Facebook Page and Elaine Stock's Facebook Page in your comment. Thanks and GOOD LUCK!

What Inspired Me? by Angela Breidenbach

People ask, "Isn't writing alone hard?" and then they ask, "Where do you get your ideas?"

I've been reading and writing since I was four years old. My dad taught me, really taught me. He'd say, "You can do it. Why not? Just try.

 Angela and her dad on their mountain
bike ride on the Hiawatha Trail for
his 80th birthday.

And my dad read to me. I can still hear his rumbly baritone voice in my head as he read Peter Pan, Snow White, Hiawatha, Pinocchio, and more. Oh I miss that voice.

And my dad listened when I told him my dreams. And Dad said, "Why not?" I knew I could be a flight attendant. Dad said, "Why not?" And then I knew I could be a writer. Again, "Why not?"

When my first book came out, Gems of Wisdom: For a treasure-filled Life, my dad drove 965 miles to be at my book launch party held at the Garden of Read'n in Missoula, MT. He had a lot of fun introducing his "author daughter" to friends over the last few years too. I had a lot of fun watching his chest puff out with pride. He believed in me before I ever sold a book.

That question of writing alone never fazed me. I don't feel alone. I hear the characters in the stories bringing them to life like my dad did for me as a little girl. I see the story unfold like a movie in my mind. Humorously, I can be so into the story that I have no idea of time passing or what might be happening around me.

I see stories in the lives around me, in the circumstances that pop out of an ordinary day, and in my incessant curiosity. I write because it's in my DNA. Storytelling is so much a part of me because my dad was a storyteller. He passed that part of him onto me through teaching me to read and write as much as reading to me. Stories have played in my imagination since before I walked. Stories change lives, enhance joy, and sometimes teach lessons. But mostly, I can't turn the stories off in my head. Dad opened the door to an inquisitive, imaginative mind. And for that, I can't thank him enough. I really missed Dad at the latest book launch for Snowflake Tiara. But I think he might have had a nice view. Why not?

I believe I can do anything I set my mind to because my dad taught me to try. "Why not?"

Here's a link to an article about learning flexibility when I lost Dad.

https://mtlmagazine.com/all-the-plans-of-mice-and/

Angela's Ah-hahs To Tweet:

Who most influenced your love of story? See who it was for author Angela Breidenbach. #BookGiveaway (Tweet This)

Everyone has a story! Angela Breidenbach: the role of #Parents and storytelling. #BookGiveaway (Tweet This)

Angela Breidenbach: What happens when a dad says “Why not?” (Tweet This)

Previous guest appearances by Angela on Everyone's Story:

We Held God's Hands Part One

We Held God's Hands Part Two

Author's Bio and Places to Connect: 

Angela Breidenbach is a captivating speaker, professional judge of more than 500 books, writing/media coach, author of Snowflake Tiara: The Debutante Queen (2-1 Christmas anthology), A Healing Heart (a contemporary romance, Quilts of Love novel), with more books coming soon. She serves nationally as the Christian Author Network's president, is certified in mentor/peer counseling as a CTA life coach, as a Stephen Minister. With a volume of appearances on television, stage, and radio Angela loves to share her knowledge to build up others in the industry. Comedy by Writer and #Muse can be found on social media and their blog, A-Muse-ings at http://angelabreidenbach.com/category/amusings.

Website

Facebook Author Page

Twitter

Pinterest

CHRISTMAS TREASURES: A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES Part 3 of Interview

The anthology has been released!! CHRISTMAS TREASURES: A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES now can be purchased directly on Amazon at this link.

This week, Elaine Stock and Anne Garboczi Evans share their thoughts on music, and plus! Be sure to leave your comments for a chance win for the BookGiveaway offer below. Ho Ho Ho. 

I'm Elaine Stock, host of this blog, Everyone's Story. Both fiction wise and blog wise I enjoy writing and sharing stories of faith's role in life. From an early age I believed in God, though I was first baptized at the age of 22. Christmas is a beautiful holiday for me, one I'd really like to see celebrated more on a religious level than the on the commercial level it's spun on these past decades. As someone who hasn't spent her childhood worshipping with others, let alone celebrating holidays and sharing family traditions, I understand how, for some, the holidays can be a very lonely time of the year. Having little of family and friends doesn't help. That is how I came to think of my Christmas anthology story, THE FOREVER CHRISTMAS GIFT. When neighbors, Nevaeh--a young woman thousands of miles away from family--and Russell--an older man without family face celebrating Christmas by themselves, they wonder whether they are being asked to try out a forever gift that might possibly change their lives.

Music has always been a huge part of my life. I remember my mother playing her treasured records of show tunes, which I'm sure influenced me to love, love, and love both Broadway hits and classical music. Too shy to try out for choir, I played viola in junior and senior high school, only putting it aside to develop my passion for writing.

In THE FOREVER CHRISTMAS GIFT, which takes place in San Francisco, Nevaeh believes it is in her best interest to protect her heart by "escaping" from all things Christmas. Yet, she can't dodge the sights and sounds of Christmas joy and en route home, stumbles across carolers singing “Hark The Herald Angels Sing.”

It is my wish for all of you to be blessed with God's love and all the joy of Christmas--Christ's birth--year round.

You can visit more with me on Facebook. I'd love to see you!

I'm Anne Garboczi Evans, and you can find out more about me on my website. When I was first asked about the role of music in my short story for the anthology, I HATE CHRISTMAS, I responded by saying that there is an obnoxious reindeer decoration outside the story's coffee shop plays Jingle Bells.

To be honest, Christmas has never been a favorite time of year for me. I love summer, beaches, and sun-bathing much more than snow and fires. But one Christmas tradition strikes a special place in my heart as an author. Christmas Eve we always went to church. My favorite part of the ceremony was lighting the candles for "Silent Night." (Yes, I still behave like a 5 year old and refuse to blow out my candle until several minutes after everyone else's candle is extinguished. ;)) As a teenager, I went to church with another teenage aspiring author. Every year she'd finish at least one novel. And every Christmas Eve she'd print out a copy of her manuscript on an old inkjet printer and hand it to me. Invariably, I'd stay up to the wee hours of the morning reading her novel.

 Now, over a decade later, my friend has a book in print and I have a literary agent and am working on that elusive first book contract. I'm excited to see where the next ten Christmas Eves will take my friend and my publishing careers. ;)

I currently have two clean historical romance novels and six women's non-fiction proposals written. The book I'm passing around to publishers right now is about world religions. For No Fear: My Tale of Hijabs, Witchcraft Circles, & the Cross, I visited my local mosque, Hindu temples, Wiccan rites and more, and then wrote about what I learned at these places of worship and why I believe Christ is the one and only.

If you like the idea of No Fear and want to know when it comes into print, please visit my Facebook page.

BookGiveaway:

Readers, whether it is traditional hymns or the Chipmunks singing, how important is Christmas music to you? One randomly chosen commenter will receive, upon release, an e-version of CHRISTMAS TREASURES: A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES. Please leave your contact information within your comment. The winner will be announced on November 21st We're looking forward to hearing from you ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤  

Tweet These:

Like #Christmas? Author Interview: Christmas Treasures: A Collection Of Short Stories. #BookGiveaway (Tweet This)

It’s out! It’s out! CHRISTMAS TREASURES: A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES is on Amazon! (Tweet This)