The Storyteller | Mary Vee

Thank you, Reader, for participating in my website! This year I plan to continue the Fabulous Friday Features (see the list on the right for upcoming guests)  and discuss interesting behind the scenes look of where others have walked. Each of us has a special journey. I hope to see you often! Happy New Year! I love writing  a list of resolutions.  I rarely finish my list, but I try.  Both God and I know my heart, and He knows His plans for me.  I suppose He has chuckled at a few of my outrageous resolutions and smiled at the ones that honor Him. Still, I forge onward writing new resolutions for each year. How about you?  What is the benefit to writing down one or more resolution/s? Resolutions show our willingness to:  *Change -what can I start or stop doing? *Improve -what can I take to a deeper lever? *Reflect - what have I done well/seen others do? *Repeat - what can I do again? *Think/pray of other s- what needs do others have that I ca

Today I welcome an authoress who will be the new ACFW Executive Director.  A warm and caring authoress ,  my friend, Robin  .   I met Robin through ACFW. She has accepted the position of ACFW's Executive Director starting 2013. Robin has volunteered many hours with ACFW with the express goal of helping others. Robin is an author of southern stories of mystery and suspense. Like everyone else, she has been busy during the Christmas holiday, but took a break to spend time with us.   Robin, When and how did God let you know He needed you in a writing ministry/career? I've always loved to tell stories to entertain people, I just didn't realize so many years ago that He would call me to writing stories of hope and faith. Early in 2005, I felt the strong desire to write fiction with the purpose to entertain, but also to honor Him in every story. What sparks of happiness has God given you? Every time I get a cont

Christmas festivities are over. Hopefully everyone enjoyed their gifts. The days between now and when we return to our regularly scheduled lives can bog down. The kids have played with their new toys and set them aside. Already? Yes already. Relatives have either left or are sitting around the kitchen table with you wondering what to do. Special Christmas programs at the kids school or local theater are over, Christmas cards sent, and the dishwasher is full. What to do, what to do?  The standard choices pop into  our minds, go to a movie, watch a DVD at home, eat leftovers, return gifts, play on the Internet...the usual.  It seems no matter what we choose to do or not do, we miss an inner satisfaction at the end of these in between days. Unless we fulfill a purpose.  And that purpose can be anything like, make a _____ for _____, build a snowman, go for a hike and see nature, organize the closet, plan this, set up that, take the family skating or sledding, read a book, rest, e

The winner of Julie Lessman's book is ...scroll to the bottom Simeon went to the Temple as he had many times before. The day didn't seem different. The sunrise nothing special, he had his breakfast, dressed, and walked the usual way. He greeted the other priests and strained to focus his aged eyes at other sounds in the Temple area. The people entered the Temple some with their sin sacrifices others with young babies to carry out the ritual of the law.   Mary and Joseph entered the gate with their baby. They walked near Simeon. His eyes widened. His heart pounded with excitement. This child... he gasped, this child was the one he had prayed and longed to see.  Simeon held out his arms, waiting for Mary to hand him her baby. The little one cood. He smiled and blew raspberry bubbles at the priest. Simeon drew the little one closer to his body and hugged him. He could not contain himself. A tear dripped down his cheek and he looked toward the sky  God, you can now r

Today I welcome a well-known authoress, one with a bubbly, energetic personality  and has become a sweet friend:  Julie Lessman .   Enter to win an autographed copy of one of Julie's books! see below I met Julie through ACFW. She taught the first class I attended at ACFW. Her husband graciously showed, enduring Julie's stories. She taught how to write Christian Romance. We laughed and learned so much that night.  I asked her to share her writing journey with us. Here is what she wrote: My Journey As a Christian Romance Writer … My journey as a romance author actually came LONG before my journey with God. It happened the moment I read Gone With the Wind at the age of twelve. The instant that Scarlett seared Rhett with a look on the winding staircase of Twelve Oaks, I was hooked, and my “romance-writing career” began with a 150-page, single-spaced ms. entitled When Tomorrow C

The winner of Fay Lamb's book, Because of Me is: (scroll down) picture courtesy of visualbiblealive.com Over time, Biblical scholars have learned a few things about the wise men. First, we don't know how many actually visited baby Jesus. Second, they did not come at Christmas time, most likely 1-2 years later. The wise men most likely had quite a group of servants and perhaps others traveling with them. The long journey required many supplies and animals. This was no small parade.  The grandeur impressed Herod enough to convince him to allow an audience with them. Herod's response to their question indicated he believed they came to worship a king. myrrh, picture courtesy of visualbiblealive.com The wise men's gifts had great significance. They did not randomly choose gold, frankincense, and myrrh because it seemed like an appropriate gift for a king. God directed their choice.  Some scholars say the gifts provided needed funds for the

One night a group of shepherds witness an amazing night event.  You have probably heard the story. Let's talk about the night the heavenly hosts visited the shepherds and try to piece together our thoughts, impressions, and what ifs. The sheep had fallen asleep. We are told there were shepherds, but not how many. They are s itting around a campfire, talking, maybe singing. There aren't any unwanted animals about or the shepherds would be busy ridding the camp of the threat.  Other than possible snoring all is quiet.  The sky is clear with thousand of speckled starlights twinkling. There is no indicator they saw a special bright star. (The wise men wouldn't arrive for more than a year or two). Imagine sitting outside on your deck. The houselights are off allowing you to see the dark sky and a maze of stars. Someone flicked on the security light. It's bright. You are surprised, protect your eyes, but are curious who turned on the light.  The light

Today I welcome an authoress who has given so much  to helping others learn,  my friend,  Fay Lamb .   Enter to win an autographed copy of Because of Me by Fay Lamb see below . I met Fay through ACFW. Fay has volunteered as the coordinator for the critique loop with ACFW. This was no small task. She has consistently helped others in their writing journey, and I am one of the beneficiaries.  I asked her to share her writing journey with us. Here is what she wrote: God Works in Mysterious Ways God does work in mysterious ways, but one secret He has never kept from me is His plan for me to write for Him. Well, let me rephrase that…I’ve never doubted I would write. Even when I wanted to throw it all away, I understood that words were in my blood and characters were my best friends. And then one day following the loss of maybe the dearest person in my life—my grandmother, God whispered in my ear and said, “You