 I love horses. Just yesterday on my walk with Hali, the horses from the neighboring farm visited us at the fence line. Hali loves horses too. Things I miss in life are those soulful brown eyes. The smell of horse. The connection sometimes they allow us to feel with them. Now, I haven’t had a horse in my life for many years. Where I live and my traveling lifestyle isn’t conducive to horses, but that hasn’t dimmed my adoration of these magnificent animals. I watch and cry my way through horse movies. Read books and enjoy when an author includes them. You see, I grew up with horsey books. I don’t remember when my fascination began, but I do recall the early years of reading everything I could get my hands on. If you follow me, you may have noticed when I went to Assateague Island National Park last year to see the wild ponies. It was a dream come true. Nature’s music filled Jordan, and happiness bubbled in her chest. “I’d like to come back here when the leaves are out.” Michael reined his horse, Jack, up next to her. “Something for us to look forward to.” “I remember my grandpa’s barn. The smell of horses.” She patted Rose’s neck. “He taught me to ride when I was a young girl.” “Your grandpa?” Michael blinked, opened his mouth, then shut it. Her heart ached at his pained expression. “Like I told Olivia, I had a family.” He scratched his forehead. “I just don’t know what’s taboo and what we can talk about.” “I’m sorry.” Jordan sighed and pulled the mare to a halt. Bands of regret tightened around her chest. “I’ve made this so hard for you.” And The eggs sizzled in the pan, and Michael stirred them around, then pushed down the toaster button. When everything was finished, he sat back at the table eating while watching the dogs running the fence line in the early dawn. The two horses grazed in the field behind them—a peaceful scene. Dear God, when did his life get so complicated? I enjoy including things I love into the books. Several of my dogs have made it into the Agent Carters. Fred and Sadie found their way into Rainbow Sprinkles. Life and art including writing come from withing us. The things we see, hear, or experience. Oh, I included this little video I made. And if you’re interested in the horse from the vid, here’s the website https://pointofviewgifts.com/ Don’t forget to signup for my newsletter for exclusive and first peeks at https://mailchi.mp/1172dfb299fb/d-v-stones-around-the-fire See you next time. Remember "There's something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man." - Winston Churchill  Hi everyone. If you joined me on March 17th, I talked about "inspirational" Now, I want to move on to inspiration. Noun
 Some of you may remember the television show “Dragnet” and its disclaimer “Ladies and gentlemen: the story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.” In many of my stories, that is true. My family often glares at me when some antic ends up in my book. Well, one of my favorite scenes from Rock House Grill is between the main character Aden House and his health aid John. Here’s the snippet After changing into boxers and a clean T-shirt, Aden sat on the side of the bed, staring down at his legs. He picked up the grabber tool and hurled it across the room. What if he never recovered? Could he live with being broken? Would he ever have a normal relationship again? “Do you need anything?” John, the rehab aide, popped his head in the door. “Can you get your legs on the bed?” “I’ll be fine.” The man flinched at his sharpness. Aden took a deep breath. “Sorry, thank you.” “I know it’s frustrating.” John came in, picked up the grabber and leaned against the wall. “It might help to talk to someone.” “I’ve already talked.” He grabbed one leg, then the other, lifting them on to the bed. “See, it’s all good.” John didn’t back off, though. “So, you’ve talked to someone. What did they say?” Aden leaned back, put his arms behind the pillow, and stared at the ceiling tiles. “I would experience anger, frustration, insecurity—blah, blah, blah.” “And what were you experiencing when I heard you throwing things and stuck my head in?” Aden closed his eyes. “All of it.” When he opened his eyes, John stood at his bedside. “You’re still the man you were. It’s a rough patch. You’ve hit rough patches before?” “Not really.” “Welcome then to the other 90% of humanity.” John stooped down, so he and Aden were eye level. Laugh lines and slight graying at the temples were the only indications he was older than Aden. “Circumstances change us. We can either curse them, and let them control us, or allow whatever happens to make us better.” “I get it.” No, I don’t think you do.” John paused a moment, grabbed a chair, and straddled it. “I have this friend. He’s a runner... John happens to be based on my good friend Andy. Now the story is different, but its heart is the same. Andy is a runner, you see. He went to the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Just before the last stage before becoming an Olympian, Andy got bronchitis. He missed his chance, but he moved on with life. Was he disappointed? You bet. Angry? What do you think? We all suffer disappointments. Trials. Our body betrays us. Loved ones let us down. But my favorite quote from this section is, “Circumstances change us. We can either curse them, and let them control us, or allow whatever happens to make us better.” I try to live my life like this. Never give control of your emotions to flawed systems or human beings. I’ll be a bit vulnerable here. I’m a divorced person (remarried and very happy now) with one son. It’s wasn’t a pretty split. Every time the ex’s name came up, I ran the gamut of emotions. Anger, frustration, sadness, you get it. The ex was living rent-free in my emotions and mind. But one day, while out to lunch with my son, he mentioned his father and the troubling circumstances he’d gotten himself into. Rage rose up. But divine intervention happened. “Let’s pray for your dad,” I said. Funny thing, when you pray for someone, it’s hard to hold on to those negative feelings. It put control back in my own hands and heart. Yes, it would happen again. But instead of letting bitterness move back in, I lifted it to God. Several things followed this situation. The most important was my relationship with my son. I never spoke badly of his father. I think that’s an important thing. Before my son’s wedding, he called to say he wanted to invite his father to the ceremony. Would I be okay with that? If I let bitterness have its way with me, my answer could have been much different. The wedding could have been a disaster. Instead, we were cordial, and everything was beautiful on my son and his lovely bride’s special day. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. NLT Hebrews 12:15 What or who is stealing your joy? How do you get past hurts and situations? If you want to share in the comments, great. Or send me an email if you’d rather it be private.[email protected] Thanks for bearing with me, and if you want to see my goofy videos follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok. I’ve added the one about today’s blog below. Around The Fire discusses What does "inspirational" mean? Maybe not what you are thinking.3/17/2022
 Before joining this giveaway I did a great deal of thinking. I don't want to mislead others. So I looked into "Inspirational" when the opportunity to join this group arose.
I don't write "religious" but one of the often words in reviews and talking to readers about my books is they are "inspiring" so why not? Whether it's Aden overcoming his accident. Or Shay stepping out of her comfort zone to reach for her dream. I'll be doing another group contest in a few weeks with Rainbow Sprinkles. Why? Gloriana and Nathan are both inspiring. They take a chance on life and love after so much pain. What does "inspirational" mean? So many things can be Inspirational. Here the definition. in·spi·ra·tion | \ ˌin(t)-spə-ˈrā-shən , -(ˌ)spi- \ Definition of inspiration 1: an inspiring agent or influence 2a: the quality or state of being inspired b: something that is inspired a scheme that was pure inspiration 3: the act of drawing in specifically : the drawing of air into the lungs 4a: a divine influence or action on a person believed to qualify him or her to receive and communicate sacred revelation b: the action or power of moving the intellect or emotions c: the act of influencing or suggesting opinions Synonyms & Near Synonyms for inspirational inducing, inspiring, motivating, motivational, motivative charged, edgy, exciting, inciting, instigating, instigative, piquing, provocative, provoking, stimulating affecting, emotional, impactful, impressive, moving, poignant, stirring, touching activating, energizing, galvanizing, quickening, vitalizing explosive, fiery, incendiary, inflammatory, triggering. Things and people can be an inspiration. Here's a few ideas...
And here are some "inspirational" quotes for you
Well, it is St. Patrick's day so may the luck of the Irish be with you. #Giveaways #bookalert #inspirational #read #book #bookstagram #thursdayvibes #ThursdayThoughts #amreading #wrpbks  One of the nice things about having your own blog is the ability to help a friend out. So many of us live far a field that it's nearly impossible to get everyone in the same room at the same time. Enter Zoom or as me and my cohorts call our little get togethers, Zoom Zoom. Through this bit of modern technology Marilyn Barr and I have gotten to know each other. Bonus- she's a camper too! Exciting, right? Well my friend is an amazing author and she has a new line of books coming out. It's a steamy paranormal romance with not just vampires-but Pirate Vampires! Here's what you need to know about her pre release and the gorgeous covers. Walk the Walk by Marilyn Barr now available for pre-order Walk the Plank Branko learns he will be sold into slavery when they dock in Charles Town, so he doesn’t hesitate to jump ship onto a neighboring sloop in the harbor. This boat will weigh anchor with him at the helm–once he decides what to do with the lady chained in the cargo hold who claims she’s a vampire. Magda Dashkovari’s body has been given to science while she’s still living in it. Her prayers are answered when a pirate boards her boat, but she should have asked for her rescuer to be less bloodthirsty than she is… Scientists hunt her in town, plantation owners hunt him from the north and south, Blackbeard blocks Charles Town Harbor to the east, and a war rages between settlers and natives to the west. These unlikely allies will have to link together to escape a life in chains…but will their trust in each other endure their journey to freedom? Walk the Deck Branko has created a monster. Magda grows more aggressive by the day as she reclaims her inner identity. He would be proud of her if she didn’t risk her life at every turn. With each ship they take over, she’s first over the rail…taking his heart with her… Magda loves life on the high seas and wants to claim the treasure only piracy can bring. Why does Branko want to settle on an island when he could have riches beyond his imagination? When evidence of a treasure galleon schedule turns legend into fact, Magda divides the crew into those members who wish to chase it and those who wish to settle…with Branko. When Branko pushes his agenda, Magda must face her greatest fear or risk losing him forever. Will their opposing visions for their future tear their tenuous partnership apart, or will they find their love is worth more than gold? Walk the Night Magda’s second chance at marriage promises to be a dream come true—if she survives her mysterious nightmare illness. She has been married for a week and is desperate for a much longer happily ever after. Branko would trade places with Magda in a heartbeat, but the sickness plaguing Nassau prefers European hosts and spares the natives of the Caribbean. While he believes Mother Nature is punishing those who destroy her beautiful islands, he refuses to accept that Magda deserves to be on the list for retaliation. The civilized world hasn’t a cure for Magda, but Branko will try anything to save her—including reuniting with a ghost from his past. He requests the help of a Hoodoo priestess but magic always comes with a price… She’s asking for Leaf, the young wildcrafter and ship’s cook, in exchange. Will Captain Branko repeat the betrayal of Blackbeard and sell a deckhand for treatment, or say goodbye to the love of his life?
Marilyn’s Social Media Links: website Amazon author profile Goodreads BookBub About the Author: Marilyn Barr currently resides in the wilds of Kentucky with her husband, son, and rescue cats. She has a diverse background containing experiences as a child prodigy turned medical school reject, published microbiologist, special education/inclusion science teacher, homeschool mother of a savant, certified spiritual/energy healer, and advocate for the autistic community. This puts her in the position to bring tales containing heroes who are regular people with different ability levels and body types, in a light where they are powerful, lovable, and appreciated. When engaging with the real world, she is collecting characters, empty coffee cups, and unused homeschool curricula. She is a sucker (haha) for cheesy horror movies, Italian food, punk music, black cats, bad puns, and all things witchy. (She is also VERY funny. D.V.) And if you want to see a fabulous Book Trailer by Purple Rose Videos @ www.kristalharris.com/teaser-trailers Have I ever told you I love camping? Okay, well if you just laughed in derision Glamping. The first few weeks on The Great Bend were a bit on the chilly side. Calm down I didn't say cold. I said chilly. There were a few night that dropped into the low 30s and upper 20s. We survived. But now the warmth and sunshine are here and we are enjoying every moment of it we can. We've made so many new friends and continue to do so. Well, Pete does. If it weren't for him and his gregarious personality it would be lonely around my campfire. We suit each other. He pulls me up from my tendency to be an introvert and in turn I pull him back to sanity when he invited the entire world to a great big party. Balance, you know. Our recent adventures have been to the Tallahassee Flea Market and this past Saturday we ventured to Carrabelle and enjoyed some beach time an a visit to a lighthouse always one of my favorites. I put a slide show of a few pics on my "More" page D.V.s guest blogs, reviews, and so much more. Head over after visiting with today's guest. One of these days Tena and I are going glamping together. So get to know her.  HI TENA!!! For those who haven't joined us before tell them who you are other than your bio. I was a radio DJ for a couple of years at a local Rock and Roll station KKFM. As a teenager and young adult, I taught roller skating at a local rink. The Colorado outdoors is where I like to spend my time when I’m not on deadline. What interests besides writing do you enjoy? Love camping or as you call it glamping in our 38 foot 5th wheel. National and state parks are our favorites. Hiking mountain trails. Photography is another passion. I am a voracious reader of paranormal, mysteries, and entertaining books. We checked out a campground on St. George's Island are interested in staying at the Who is your network or support system? www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/dr-julian-g-bruce-st-george-island-state-park It's a small campground that can fit 2Hoots. We chatted up some campers on the visit. Speaking of chatting up people, who are your support system? First and foremost it would be my husband. He’s there for the ups and downs always with an encouraging word. My best friend in Las Vegas as been a great support from the beginning. She is one of my beta readers. She’s always asking when the next book will be out, just as she’s finished one. LOL Local writer friends are also support as well as the assistance I get from fellow authors from The Wild Rose Press. Who or what books or authors inspire you? Deborah Harkness (Discovery of Witches) Molly Harper (How to run with a naked werewolf series and her vampire series) She was a humor columnist for years. Of course Nora Roberts. Love her paranormal series. Do you have any fun or outrageous talent? I can walk into a restaurant and a crying baby will be heard. As I stated above I was a Radio DJ, that was a fun job, perks included attending any concert the station sponsored and meeting the bands. The downside is pay. If you aren’t on the east or west coast or syndicated, the pay sucks. It’s a cut-throat industry. I love to whitewater kayak as well as relax and paddle on a calm lake watching all the wildlife. I haven't been to a concert in years. However I do vaguely remember a couple of Grateful Dead concerts long long ago. What is your neighborhood like? Are there any places you frequent? What makes them special? I live in a well established neighborhood. The dog and I used to walk every morning until sidelined with health problems from COVID. But things are getting better. It’s a quiet neighborhood for the most part. I love watching all the flowers and landscape come alive in the Spring. There’s a neighborhood park that my dog Mystic likes to climb through the tunnel and slide down the slide, when the kids allow. LOL Do you have a favorite childhood book? And what writing inspired you to become an author. Favorite childhood book would be the Nancy Drew Mysteries and Trixie Beldon books. I loved them all (still have them on my bookshelves). If I didn’t like the ending, I’d rewrite it to suit my needs. I know this is going to sound terrible, but when I read a certain vampire series about Bella and …, I thought, Hey I can do that good. A year later I was published. Realize that I’ve written since I learned to read and write. Also I have a an overactive imagination and an insatiable curiosity that drive me. If you could only choose one song to play every time you walked into a room for the rest of your life, what would it be? Fight song by Rachel Platten If you could eat anything in the world right now, what would it be? Pizza. It’s my favorite food group. LOL My favorite as well. Pepperoni is at the top of the list. If you could time travel, where would you go and when? To when Steve Jobs started Apple. Why? I would love to talk research and development with him. Also visit with the young Bill Gates about his dreams for computers and Microsoft. Yeah, I’m a nerd at heart. LOL Who is the most interesting person you’ve met and talked with? Author Tony Hillerman’s daughter, Anne Hillerman. She took up his stories when he passed. She had a lot of stories growing up with him and adventures when she decided to continue his legacy. Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones? Yes, I read all my reviews. I relish the good ones. The bad ones, I read once, see if there is any thing I can learn from them and never read them again. Writing is hard enough with out listening to the naysayers. After writing is subjective. What was the best money you ever spent as a writer? The thesaurus series by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi. Scrivener program. Ugh, Scrivener and I are not friends. We've been introduced but never clicked. Tena, what a great fireside chat. Before you head off on your next adventure I hear you have some exciting news. Tell us what you've been working on.  An Angel’s Wylder Assignment
by Tena Stetler Coming soon! 3-9-22 It takes a Warrior Angel and Native American Shifter to save the past and create their future. Review by Still Moments Magazine – Darlene Fredette The story is engaging with a beautiful setting in Wylder, WY, but it’s the characters that make this story fun to read. This western, paranormal book was an enjoyable read Inside look! Warrior Angel Killian Dugan’s annual trip to the family castle in Scotland is shattered by the arrival of Legion Commander North. Killian’s skills are needed for an urgent time travel assignment. A rogue demon has escaped back in time. He must discover the why and where and stop the demon before it can damage the past and change the future. Killian’s girlfriend Chinoah Grace, a Native American shapeshifter is included in the mission which takes them to the wild west town of Wylder, Wyoming in the year 1878. She will have her hands full fitting in and making friends. Nothing is as it seems. They encounter visions, spirit quests, and a mysterious shaman. On top of it all, blending in as a blacksmith is more physically difficult than he imagined. But not as challenging as keeping his hands off his undercover wife. Will they complete their assignment or run out of time? Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Angels-Wylder-Assignment-West-ebook/dp/B09PJQYXMX/ Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Angels-Wylder-Assignment-West-ebook/dp/B09PJQYXMX/ Amazon CA https://www.amazon.ca/Angels-Wylder-Assignment-West-ebook/dp/B09PJQYXMX/ Amazson.DE (Germany) https://www.amazon.de/s?k=An+Angel%27s+Wylder+Assignment&crid=NFFBV3DYG5P Barnes & Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-angels-wylder-assignment-tena-stetler/1140834339?ean=9781509240050 iBook's - https://books.apple.com/us/book/an-angels-wylder-assignment/id1602043436 Google play – Not available yet KOBO – Not available yet A bit more about the author In Tena’s past lives she's been a savings and loan branch manager, a paralegal for a criminal law firm, IT Manager for an electrical contracting firm, and now a published writer. After trying on many hats, she finally found the one that fits the best. Or in other words, she loves making things up to entertain others. LOL Want More! Okay here you go... Website: https://www.tenastetler.com Authors’ Secret’s Blog - https://www.tenastetler.com/category/authors-secrets-blog/ My Say What Blog - http://www.tenastetler.com/category/my-say-what-blog/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/tenastetler.author Twitter Page: https://www.twitter.com/TenaStetler Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14187532.Tena_Stetler Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/tenastetler Newsletter: https://www.tenastetler.com/newsletter-signup/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/tenastetler Tribber - http://triberr.com/TenaStetler Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tena-stetler Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tenastetler/ Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/tenajean2014 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tena-stetler-10057978/ Reviews: |
Your Host D.V. StoneAward winning multi-genre author and blogger. Fantasy, romance, mid-grade. Nothing better than a campfire, book, and glass of wine. Okay maybe there is.📚 Follow Me!
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