The Storyteller | Mary Vee

In the current story I am working on, I have a character named Janey who is a foster child.  To give this character a sense of reality for the story, I contacted several friends who work with Child Protective Services, Teen Agencies, Drug Enforcement, Office of Public Assistance, and Suicide Prevention and asked questions.  Some answered with mandates written in the law, some referred to their cases, and all spoke from their heart because it is a meaningful topic to them. I bounced off my ideas to insure accuracy in my scene. With this information in hand I wrote several scenes for Janey and showed them to a beta reader. The person lifted her eyes after finishing the scene and smiled. She pointed out portions she especially enjoyed. The one thing she didn't discuss was the technical foster care points finely threaded into the scenes, and that made me happy.  I love watching Olympic ice skating competitions. The performances, even with flaws are magnificent. The ...

We've lived in our house for eight months. The coffee cups have been in the cupboard to the left of the sink and the glasses in the cupboard to the right.  Teen daughter walked in at noon and opened the cupboard to the right to get a coffee cup. Her conclusion: We need cupboards with special features. One that changes the contents of the cupboard depending on the need. For example, if I stand before this cupboard and say coffee cup, the door would open and poof, the desired object is there. Good idea! The movie Sleepless in Seattle came to mind after teen daughter left the room with her coffee. Sam Baldwin, (played by Tom Hanks), an architect, is having difficulties with the buyer of a house. It seems every day she requests changes to her new home structure. The one change Sam hates to change is: move the kitchen cabinets. He'll never finish the house.  Sam Baldwin is speaking with his date Victoria, Here is the scene: "She's on her sixth painter...

Today I welcome an author who loves to read, ride horses, play with dogs, go sailing, basically anything outdoors. She is a fun person to have as a friend: Miralee Ferrell Enter to win Miralee's  book, Blowing on Dandelions   Scroll to the end of the post to see how to enter. I asked Miralee to share with us how God had led her on her writing journey. Here is what she said: God Opened the Door I know a lot of writer’s believe they’re called to write but my calling was more dramatic than you might expect—and it showed me quite clearly that God had something special in mind.  I was at an evening church service with a visiting pastor speaking. At the end he had a call for prayer, and I went forward. He prayed with me and then stopped. He said he believed God was calling me to write and it needed to be published. I went home, prayed about it, and felt a confirmation, although I had no idea what direction to go. All I could think was t...

A song sung by the Detroit Bible College Choral: Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever amen, amen, be honor and glory for ever and ever amen. From I Timothy 1:17 . Before a family meal is eaten, the table must be set. There can be a wide range of dishes and other assorted pieces placed on the table, depending on the need. For me, I had an opportunity to dine with the Father at a table He set this last weekend. Here is how: About a year ago, my son gave me an exterior hard drive for my computer and recommended I back up my data regularly. I set the device in my computer bag and promptly forgot about it. Last Friday, I happened to visit him and while there asked him to teach me how to do the back up for my computer. He taught me by doing the job. Sunday, I received word that Jim, a good college friend passed away. Several friends from our college choral went to the visitation. Jim's brother, Robert, gree...

Today is weeding day. I won't spend the entire day out in the sweltering heat, but I will go out this morning and again this evening when it cools a bit.  I don't have a green thumb when weeding gardens. If you're in need a plant to be killed, put it in my care. I don't know how, but I even managed to kill a cactus. Good grief. I think I am hopeless. But I keep trying. When the temperature rises outside I will start my weeding inside. I'll weed my house of the clutter, dust, and dirty dishes. I'll weed the laundry room of dirty clothes. This morning when I first woke, I weeded my mind of ill thoughts, concerns, and disappointments and replaced them with thoughts of God and what He has done for me.  Throughout the day I have to weed out the lazy temptation and replace it with drive/motivation.  My favorite weeding will be the edits on my current manuscript. I can't wait. I love reading crits from others and using their suggestions for improveme...

Today I welcome an author who stopped by this website one Friday to read how God led a friend, Beth Vogt, on her writing journey. This is what Let's Talk is all about. Bringing friends together and sharing God's blessings. After learning Carla Laureano had a new release just last month, June 2013, I asked her to share with us how God has led her on her writing journey. Here is what she said: An Audience of One I didn’t start out intending to write inspirational fiction. At the time I began writing novels and working towards publication over fifteen years ago, the Christian fiction market seemed to be mainly historicals, traditional sweet romances, and the Left Behind series. For a writer of fantasy fiction (and later contemporary romance) there didn’t seem to be a place for my kind of story. So I spent almost ten years aiming for publication in the general market. I had some good responses on my work and some interest from big-name agents, b...

Temperatures in my neck of the woods have reached triple digits. It probably has in yours as well. I am SO thankful for central air in the house, and air conditioners in cars. As I walked in the house, my daughter's cat emerged from a back room, walked to the slider, and begged to go outside.  I kneeled by her and petted her head. "You really don't want to go outside. It is too hot. You'll swelter in your fur coat." Did she believe me? Noooooooo. That's when the idea for this post popped in my head. I gingerly fetched my camera knowing that crazy cat would stay by the door, hoping I would change my mind. The memory chip had been taken out of the camera and the batteries were dead. I took my time assembling the camera, still assured that crazy cat would stay by the door. Uh huh. So desperate to go outside, she remained at her post while I took the pics and typed these words.  Yet for her safety and health I wouldn't open that...

I'd heard about the awards received, and the contracts signed to have this book translated into other languages and became intrigued. What makes this book so honorable? The only way to answer the question was to read the book. And now, I will entice you to read it, too. The Dance, by Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley Jim is a wealthy business owner. Good returns have enabled him to buy his wife the best clothes, a lovely home in in the high class section of River Oaks, the current gadget and toys for his kids, exclusive cars, and invitations to social events.  With his wife by his side, all of River Oaks knows Jim is a successful man, including his church. As a deacon of the mega church, board members choose to rent needed facilities from Jim's available properties. While life could be stressful at times from keeping up with business demands, he always is assured his shirts would be washed and pressed, a meal on the table, kids cared for, and his home spit polished clean-...

Today I welcome an amazing lady who has studied engineering, owned a coffee shop and chose above all these to author historical Christian Fiction:  Vanessa Riley Enter to win Vanessa Riley's  new release, Madeline's Protector   Scroll to the end of the post to see how to enter. I met Vanessa through the ACFW loop. Sharon Lavy mentioned her new book, Madeline's Protector, released April of this year. When I wrote to her, she shared this amazing writing journey God has led her on. I just had to ask her to share this with you: Even God Can Use a Chamber Pot One of my favorite scenes in my debut novel, Madeline's Protector, takes place after heroine, Madeline St. James, has been shot and reforming rake hero, Justain Delveaux, works to stop the bleeding to keep her alive. "Your eyes, like a knight’s or a beautiful marble warrior." She pulled his hand to her chin, modeling what Mrs. Wilkins always did to encourage her. "God’...

Darryl is a perfect gentleman... He lives in a nursing home (names have been changed) with his wife, Evelyn. A real Notebook story that is wonderful to share. Darryl is an older gentleman with no physical or mental health issues. His dear wife, Evelyn, suffers from dementia and some minor physical issues. He couldn't take care of her by himself.  For her health, she had to move to a nursing home.  He couldn't stand to be away from his Evelyn, they'd shared so many years together. He volunteered to move into the nursing home with her where they share a room. The nurses care for Evelyn, which frees Darryl to come and go as he wants, including spending holidays with his son and grandkids.  On days when he isn't there, Evelyn is walked down to the dining area by nurses aids who reassure her that Darryl will come home. They sit her in a place next to an empty chair. She sets her arm on the chair intended for her husband. Her eyes move from the chair to the...