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Potluck at a Country Church
Jocie Brooke here reporting from Hollyhill. It’s October. That means it’s Homecoming time at church and all the women in the church try to outdo one another with what they bring for the potluck dinner...
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A Dandelion Dance
“Dandelions are just friendly little weeds who only want to be loved like flowers.” ― Heather Babcock I like dandelions. I know that’s not the popular stance with people warring to get rid of...
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Shaker Sayings for Shaker Stories
The Outsider was my first book set in my fictional Shaker village of Harmony Hill. The setting is clearly modeled on the Pleasant Hill Shaker Village in nearby Mercer County here in Kentucky. This...
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Sisters are the Best
Sisters make the best friends. I’ve been featuring things about the Shakers here on my blog the last couple of weeks since my book, The Blessed, is on e-book sale right now for 99 cents or less...
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Stairways to Story
Stairways have played major roles in my Shaker stories. In most of my Shaker books, I’ve let my characters wonder why it’s so important to follow the Shaker rule of always stepping on the first step...
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Marking Things off my Bucket List
The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss, but that it is too low and we reach it. ~Michelangelo Have you ever thought about making a bucket list? I’ve never...
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Finally, Some Winners
The longer you hang in there, the greater the chance that something will happen in your favor. No matter how hard it seems, the longer you persist, the more likely your success. ~Jack Canfield...
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The Right to Vote
I believe in Liberty for all men: the space to stretch their arms and their souls, the right to breathe and the right to vote, the freedom to choose their friends, enjoy the sunshine, and ride on the...
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Cover Reveal – The Refuge
Writing a book has many exciting moments. First, you have that initial spark of an idea and as you begin to develop your story, characters show up and become good friends or perhaps, a not so good...
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Kentucky Book Fair Memories
A book is a gift you can open again and again. ~Garrison Keillor One of my favorite things to do as a writer is talk to readers and other writers. And one of the best times to do that is at a book...
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The Persimmon Pucker
So you’re a country kid taking a walk in the autumn months and come across a persimmon tree. Older and wiser people are walking along with you and tell you that you have to try tasting one of those...
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Adventures with Frankie
When we adopt a dog or any pet, we know it is going to end with us having to say goodbye, but we still do it. And we do it for a very good reason: They bring so much joy and optimism and happiness....
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Some Good Everyday Blessings
When I sent out my newsletter last week, I asked for you to name some of your everyday blessings. But only if you wanted to do so. I’ve gotten many that say family. I can certainly identify that. Other...
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Memories and Love on a Christmas Tree
Some Christmas tree ornaments do more than glitter and glow, they represent a gift of love given a long time ago. ~Tom Baker My son and a couple of my granddaughters came to visit Saturday night and...
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That Impossible Christmas Perfection Deadline
“Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons.” – Ruth Ann Schabacker. December is here. That means Christmas is right around the corner with all the traditional activities. There’s the...
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What’s in a Name?
They say the test of literary power is whether a man can write an inscription. I say, ‘Can he name a kitten?’ ~Samuel Butler Have you had the pleasure of naming some kittens or cats? Maybe a dog? Or...
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So Many Questions
“How do I create something out of nothing? I think it is by questioning.” ~Amy Tan Last post I shared about how I go about naming my characters. That includes animal characters too. I posted a picture...
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Winning Ways
God wants you to be a winner, not a whiner. Joel Osteen Are you a winner? Well, maybe not when it comes to having your name drawn out of a pot to win a prize. I’m not that. I sometimes joke and say...
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Angels and Shepherds
December 17, 1965 Jocie here reporting from Hollyhill. It’s almost Christmas time. Yay! I love Christmas. Don’t you? We get off school. For two weeks!! Yay, again. And while we’re out of school, we get...
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Favorite Christmas Sweets
Christmas is coming. Speeding my way since we’re going to start celebrating this weekend. I’ve been working hard to get things ready. First I cleaned the floors. They needed it, but now it’s supposed...
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