27 Mar
on becoming a writer :: book review
I feel so blessed to have met some amazingly talented women around this ol’ World Wide Web thing! Especially when I can call them friend!
And so it is with Denise.
My friend Denise just wrote her first book and I was lucky enough to receive a preview copy. Denise is beautiful inside and out, and knows this craft of writing pretty well.
You see, not only is Denise a blogger, she’s also a writing professor. Does that intimidate any other writers out there? No? Just me then … carry on. :)
So what of this new book? As someone who’s both a blogger and writer aficionado, Denise’s On Becoming a Writer is chock-full of wisdom on writing in an easy-to-read-and-understand-sort-of-way.
Denise is the ultimate encourager and this book is proof. She believes “every blogger has a unique story — a unique purpose — for writing.” And her “deepest heart’s desire is to come alongside other bloggers to encourage them.”
Her simple definition of a writer is “someone who has something to say and wants to say it well.” And On Becoming a Writer is just that … an easy read for guide those of us who have something to say and want to say it well.
I highly encourage any blogger or writer to get a copy of On Becoming a Writer! It’s available on Amazon now for only $4.99. Go. Quick!
Is there an area of writing you struggle with?
6 Feb
31 days of forgiveness – released!!
IT’S TIME!! IT’S TIME!! IT’S TIME!!
As I mentioned the other day, writing this book has been a labor of love. A complete and utter labor of love.
Anyone who knows me, knows my story, and reads this book, will know the labor of love and gamut of emotions put into each word.
I’m amazed as I sit back and read through these pages and think, “Who wrote this?!”
Then I hear a gentle reminder, “Remember when you invited me in each time you sat at the keyboard?”
Yes … indeed. These words … this book … and the heart behind it is Divinely written. I believe that with every fiber of my being!
<— This kid, Taylor Rio, my soon-to-be eighteen year old … wise beyond her years.
A living example of forgiveness and grace. It was one my most favorite things to do, to be able to dedicate this book to her … my first babygirl.
Taylor, you inspire me more than you might ever know. Stay strong my love and live in the plans your Savior has laid out for you.
WHO’S READY
FOR SOME FUN?!?
First up — the electronic version of 31 Days of Forgiveness is FREE for the next 72 hours!! Shout it from the rooftops and tell all your friends!
Secondly — for those of you, much like myself, who desire a hold-in-your-hands-to-mark-it-up-good book, I have just the thing! A paperback copy of 31 Days of Forgiveness!! It’s $7.99 and available on Amazon. I tell ya, it’s been so much fun holding this in my hands over the last week! And if you’re not ready to splurge on the $7.99 right now, take a look below … we’re offering many chances to win a paperback copy {along with some other fun things!!}
Sooo whoooo loves a giveaway?!?
I’ve been blessed with the most incredible launch team … thank you ladies from the bottom of my heart!! Many of these ladies will be hosting a giveaway over the next few days, which means you’ll have many opportunities to win! Each blog will be gifting the following items! One winner will receive all three of these lovelies! Woot-to-the-hoot!!
Following are links to the blog posts currently available, I’ll be updating this list as the team adds their posts:
Encouraging Sweetness
Elisa Pulliam
Along The Trail
Button Bird Designs
Jean Blogs
Mercy Is New
Cindy Clean Living
Hoovers West
A Heart Consumed
Jessica Lynette
Glass Peacock
Enjoying Each Moment
Girl of Grace
Constant in Chaos
Denise J. Hughes
Teri Lynne U
Beauty Out of Dust
Melissa’s Musings
Giveaway details:
{what}
One winner will receive all three items listed above!
{how}
~ leave a comment {any ol’ comment. winners picked via random.org}
~ tweet the giveaway {but come back & leave a comment}
~ facebook the giveaway {but come back & leave a comment}
~ blog the giveaway {but come back and leave a comment}
{when}
Now through Friday, February 8 – midnight {EST}
{prizes from}
note pads – Day Spring
paperback copy of 31 Days of Forgiveness – me!
owl pillow – Button Bird Designs
ANOTHER WAY TO WIN!!
I’ll be hosting Instagram giveaways for the paperback version of 31 Days of Forgiveness throughout the day!! How will that work you ask?? I’ll post a photo of the book, and the first one to see it and comment WINS! If you’re not following me, my username is @tmstier.
GIVING BACK!!
All proceeds of 31 Days of Forgiveness will go directly to The Seed Company. Today, nearly one-third of the world’s language groups, representing 350 million people, are still waiting for God’s Word in a language they can understand clearly.
The Seed Company enables you to support local Bible translators as they make God’s message available in the language of their people.
IMPORTANT LINKS!!
31 Days of Forgiveness {through the eyes of grace}:
website
paperback
electronic version
SPREADING THE WORD!!
If you would like to be involved in generating word about 31 Days of Forgiveness — a much needed message in this world — here are some pre-worded tweets:
Forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves. <— click to tweet
Are we required to forgive & forget? If we don’t forget, is it really forgiveness? <— click to tweet
Forgiveness is rooted in grace — giving someone something she doesn’t deserve. <— click to tweet
Forgiveness comes in stages … and there’s nothing wrong with that. <— click to tweet
But Jesus … filled with love & forgiveness, didn’t judge her guilty. <— click to tweet
SPECIAL THANK YOUS!!
My girls – for allowing me the time to write. for giving momma grace when she’s overwhelmed. for your never-ending supply of hugs and “I love you mom.”
My friends – thank you to each of you who gave me an encouraging word!
Sandra Peoples, Next Step Editing – you not only “fix” my mistakes, you teach me to be a better writer. {was that sentence okay?} :)
Erin Ulrich, Design By Insight – designer extraordinaire and the patience of a saint. I thank you, thank you, thank you!
My Jesus – for healing my hurts. for giving me strength, when in my human capacity I couldn’t bear to go on. for sacrificing Your life as the ultimate model of forgiveness. for showing me freedom and peace available in forgiveness.
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Posted in 31 days of forgiveness, giveaway, writing
4 Feb
it’s here!!
It was last Tuesday and I’d waited all day. But it never came.
In the afternoon, I picked the girls up from the bus and took them to run some errands and out to dinner. It was dark when we’d returned and I’d sort of forgotten about it.
Almost.
Until I parked the car and looked to the front step and there it was …
my proof copy of 31 Days of Forgiveness!!!
Elation! Excitement! Disbelief! Anticipation!
Excitement! Excitement! Excitement!
Surrealness!
Total surrealness! My words … well, in all fairness, God’s words … but still! OUR words right there in front of me between a beautifully designed {thank you Erin!} front and back cover! Surrealness, right!?!
and ohmyheart!!!
When I took the book out of the packaging, Hunter — my package hound — grabbed it and exclaimed, “Is this your book?!”
“Yes babygirl, it’s mommy’s book!”
She ran back outside where my others were taking doggies potty, and showed each of them … with awe and excitement … it brought tears to my eyes to see how important it was to them. They know the hours of heart and soul I’ve poured into it and there they were treasuring it as if they’d just found a block of gold from the deep.
When Hunter showed it to Taylor, Tay looked straight at me {an important detail when we’re talking teens} full of awe and seriousness and said, “That’s really cool mom!”
The proof has been approved, details are being finalized, and 31 Days of Forgiveness {through the eyes of grace} will be launched this Wednesday {February 6}!!
I’ve got some FUN things planned for release day, so be sure to come back Wednesday for all the nitty-gritty — dare I say awesomesauce — details!!
HINT HINT — giveaways! blog hop! FREE!
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Posted in 31 days of forgiveness, forgiveness, writing
21 Jun
purpose
Some of you know … some of you don’t … that I’ve been walking through a raging fire for some time now. I don’t talk about it or carry on {too much} on the blog here. But it’s there. The pain. The fire. It’s always there.
I have a lot of thoughts rolling around and I’d like to flush them out here … writing them out, here in my space, it helps bring purpose and sense to what I’m feeling.
I read something the other day and screamed “YES! YES! That’s exactly how I feel!”
“Blogging has profoundly changed me … I am a mess. I am a contradiction. I am brave and also not.
Working those things out in writing helps me to have peace with it rather than fight it so much. Thinking about my own contradictions in my head brings anxiety. But writing through them gives me courage. Yes, I am a mess. But that doesn’t mean I have nothing to offer.
Hope profoundly motivates me.
I see the world as a half-full glass.
I risk Pollyanna by writing that way but I don’t care.” Emily Freeman, Chatting at the Sky
“I risk Pollyanna by writing that way but I don’t care.”
That’s how I feel. A lot of the time.
I’m in pain. I’m walking a nightmare. But I have hope.
I always have hope. “Hope profoundly motivates me.” And causes me to continue to share … reach out … and breathe Truth into your souls.
I shared just two days ago of my hurt. And y’all responded with love and kindness. To be honest … the purpose of that post wasn’t meant to be about me and my pain. It’s purpose was to be real, to let you know I have real hurts and pain, but I have hope. And it’s purpose was to encourage you with that hope.
There’s always hope.
Many times I absolutely feel “I risk Pollyanna,” when I carry on about hope, and truth, and promises. Sometimes my Pollyanna-like thoughts stifle me. I fear you might be across the screen giving me the proverbial eye-roll. That fear stifles my words and causes me to shut down.
But then a truth comes. Hope blooms. The promises reveal themselves to me once more urging themselves to be shared.
And so … as Emily so sweetly put it, “I may risk Pollyanna but I don’t care.”
It’s my purpose. And I won’t let my pain happen in vain.
Today I’m linking up with Write It, Girl.
Posted in encouragement, write it girl, writing
20 Mar
i’ll wait. he’ll answer.
Standing in the middle of the Christian book section at Barnes and Noble, I find myself completely overwhelmed at this sudden thought, “What can my writing possibly add to what’s already been written.”
And written good. From real writers. Who’ve wanted to be writers for as long as they can remember. Who know what all the technical terms of the English language mean. Like a participle. Or a hanging participle.
I failed English in high school. I had an English teacher who was short, seemed at least 100 years old, and wore her hair in a beehive … with pencils in it. I didn’t like her. And she didn’t like me. And she failed me. But I totally deserved it.
I still don’t like English much. You know, proper English, and proper sentences. Most of the time I can’t think of the words I need … the really fancy ones that razzle-dazzle. I’m more of what you’d call a four-letter Scrabble queen … the five and six letter words seem to allude me. And I might be a little proud of myself for just using the word “allude.”
That’s the real me.
But I digress.
I have a passion burning inside of me to write my story. To share my story. But it absolutely intimidates the heck out of me to think that my four-letter-word writing could have a place on a bookshelf with the greats.
Not to mention … as I mentioned … it seems everything’s been said, done, told, and shared.
Overcoming, Healing, Grace, Gifts, Encouragement … it’s been said thousands of times and thousands of ways.
How is my story any different? How would my words impact in a way others haven’t already?
And then I remember … it’s my God-given story, and my God-given passion.
Sure, I may feel overwhelmed and discouraged at times, but worrying won’t get me anywhere. So instead …
I’m still and He’ll move.
I’ll pray and He’ll listen.
I’ll wait and He’ll answer.
Posted in write it girl, writing
