Welcome To The Campfire Pamela S. Thibodeau

I love the outdoors and today's guest is also a fan. She's a camper and author from Louisiana. Her contemporary romance/women’s fiction novels speak to today's woman, rough edges and all.  She unapologetically weaves faith and hope into her characters as they journey through life's mountains and valleys-without sugarcoating them. Pam was also in many of our prayers when hurricane Laura came through last week and she had to evacuate. I know that she checked in as safe. It's been a rough week for many so I hope you'll sit back, relax for a few moments and enjoy the fire.
**update** My heart goes out to Pam and her family. The sudden and unexpected death of her father during this difficult time breaks my heart. If you are a person of prayer please lift this lovely woman and her family up. 
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Hey Pamela I'm so glad  to welcome you to the Campfire. What can I offer you? The campfire fridge is like Mary Poppins' bag, it has everything. And my recommendation today is pumpkin spice coffee.
​Hi Donna! Thanks for having me at the camp. Hey...my favorite campfire beverage is coffee in the morning and a wine cooler or homemade margarita in the evening so...depends on what time of day we're chatting LOL!
Well time is relative at camp so we'll start with coffee and see where it takes us. While I'm filling the cups, can you tell us about your favorite camping memory?
Favorite camping story.... oh my.... I have SO many to tell! Most of my 'camping' trips are actually vacations. Sometimes long ones. For instance in 2017 we took a West Coast trip.... 15 states and 15 National Parks in 7 weeks. That was a fantastic trip but I love the long weekends up at Toledo Bend Lake or Sam Raybur when we can do some fishing too, especially when my cousin and her husband join us. Those are the weekends we laugh the most - a lifetime of memories in a weekend. :-) 

And how about any new adventures?
 My latest adventure was travelling to Troy, Alabama for the Dixie Majors World Series baseball tournament. My travelling partner’s grandson played for North Charleston who actually won the series last year in Monroe, Louisiana!

How have you been handling events of the recent pandemic? Has you writing been affected? To what extent? Oh, this pandemic is a crazy thing isn’t it? I’ve handled things pretty well. The hardest part was back when this all started in March and not being able to attend my granddaughter’s 16th birthday party. My daughter face-timed us though, so that helped. The second hardest thing is this virus has impacted my weekly nights out on the dance floor – it has been way-too-long since we’ve done that although we have danced a few on the carport LOL! My writing has flourished though that’s probably not due to the pandemic, but to the fact that I’ve finally found my groove again after years-over a decade really-of not being able to focus on writing. Since getting My Heart Weeps files up for pre-order, I’ve completed another novella which is in the editing stage and am working on yet another.

Sorry about missing the sweet 16 but we're glad your writing again. Please tell us a little about your latest project. Title, Genre, Inspiration 
My Heart Weeps is an inspirational women’s fiction novel that follows one woman’s journey through grief into new life and parallels my own. This book actually took eight (8!) years to compete! It was way too up-close and personal to get through all at once.

Sometimes writing can be so hard but also cathartic. I happy you worked through it. Do you have a tagline or life motto?
My tagline is “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ and I try to live my life by my own motto which is a combination of common sense and scripture: Don’t mock what you don’t understand and judge not lest ye be judged.

Good words. I remember a line from the Narnia Chronicles. Safe?" said Mr. Beaver "Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. and life isn't safe. But we try to make it good.
Are there and tips, tricks, or anything you specialize in that you would share with others. 
You know, I’ve never really thought about this… Tips and tricks – zilch LOL! I just live life as it comes along. I guess one piece of advice I would share is: Take a Breath! I’ve been on a spiritual journey for years and one thing I’ve found that helps in the stickiest situation is to simply take one or several deep breaths. Stress is a byproduct of a busy mind – you heard that right, a busy MIND not a busy life. Peace is an internal thing and begins with having peaceful thoughts. When my mind starts circling around a subject or the many things on my ‘to do’ list for the day/week/month, I tell myself all-the-time… Just take a breath, Pam, you’ve (or God’s) got this. Breath in PEACE to the slow count of four, hold for a 4 count, then breathe out STRESS to the slow count of five. This simple technique has helped me be calmer and more peaceful in some very trying circumstances. Try it sometime!

There used to be a poster in my office that said "The faster I work, the Behinder I get." I'm also familiar with the breathing technique similar to what you describe called four square breathing. Now the fun questions. 
What is your favorite mug or teacup if neither T-shirt with graphic or Meme.. . 
I have a huge mug that says…. Coffee smells like freshly ground heaven. 

Years ago, there was a commercial that talked about a “Kodak Moment.” It’s a moment in time you catch in a picture. One you never want to forget. What is yours?

​Visiting Churchill Downs in 2018 would certainly be on the top of my list (after birth of grandchildren of course) and visiting Boonsboro, MD (Nora Roberts’ town) would be #2.
 
Favorite childhood book? Or writing that inspired you to become an author.
My favorite childhood books were the Black Stallion series by Walter Farley. What inspired me to become a writer was reading one-too-many insipid little romances. I love the romance genre but at the time I was pregnant and after throwing more than one book across the room in disgust figured I could do better. A might arrogant to say the least, LOL! But that’s what got me started. I’ve since found writing and writing well are two different things.
 Would you rather have unlimited international first-class tickets or never have to pay for food at restaurants?
Oh, this is easy! International first-class tickets because I LOVE to travel and dream of going to Italy, Ireland and Jerusalem someday.
 Did you ever win something? What?
I’m sure I’ve won a few things in my life but what stands out the most is winning $2000 at a casino. I’m not a huge gambler and I actually won with “free play” money. What’s so amazing about it is that I wanted to attend a spiritual workshop with a few friends, and I mentioned to God that I’d love to be able to pay their way. “That’d take about two-thousand dollars though….” Well, guess what? Yep, I won that money shortly afterward and was able to treat three of my friends to the workshop. The fourth couldn’t make it so I sent her the money. God never ceases to amaze me.

If someone came up to you and said, “Hey, do that thing you do!”, what thing would pop into your head, first? DANCE! I love music and I love to be out on the dancefloor…. Waltz, two-step, jitterbug, line dancing. Regardless how tired I am or stressful my day, I always get my second wind when it comes to dancing.
 What subjects should be taught in school, but aren’t?
Oh my, I think one of the most important subjects should be Budgeting and Balancing a Checkbook and perhaps Wise Saving/Investing. In this day and age when every penny is tracked online, and credit card debt is beyond belief, young people have no idea how to balance a checkbook or budget their income and these life skills are imperative with the way our economy fluctuates and the future of Social Security always hanging in the balance. 
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Thanks for being part of the Campfire, Pam. It's so wonderful getting to know you better. Would you leave us information about your book and how to find out more?​ There's also  some exciting news about a giveaway at the end of this post.

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Title: My Heart Weeps
Blurb: After thirty years married to the man of her dreams, Melena Rhyker is devastated by her husband's death. Relief comes in the form of an artist's retreat at the Crossed Penn ranch in Utopia, TX. She rediscovers a forgotten dream as her artistic talent flourishes into that of a gallery-worthy artist. Will she have the courage to follow the path she was destined to travel?
 
Garrett Saunders has been on the run most of his life. Abused and abandoned as a child, he escapes the clutches of a past filled with pain and shame, and hides from his calling as a Native American healer. His years as a CIA agent aid in overcoming his childhood and honing his talent and skill as a fine art photographer. 
 
Follow their journey as two people who come from totally different backgrounds, but share gifts of gigantic proportions, find meaning and purpose in the Texas Hill Country.
 
My Heart Weeps is on sale for a limited time @ 99cents and FREE on Kindle Unlimited!
Purchase Link: https://bit.ly/MyHeartWeeps

Author bio: Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.” Sign up to receive Pam’s newsletter and get a FREE short story!

Links:
Website address: http://www.pamelathibodeaux.com
Blog: http://pamswildroseblog.blogspot.com
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/psthibnewsletter
Face Book: http://facebook.com/pamelasthibodeaux
https://www.facebook.com/pamelasthibodeauxauthor
Twitter: http://twitter.com/psthib @psthib
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/pamelasthibodea/
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/1jUVcdU
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/pamela-s-thibodeaux
Instagram: https://instagram.com/pamelasthibodeauxauthor

Pam is giving away 1 Ebook, 1 Autographed Print Book, 1 Audio Book, a $15 Amazon Gift Card, a 1-month Audible membership and a SURPRISE Giftpack to 6 lucky people! (1 prize per winner) Names will be collected throughout the tour which ends Sept. 30th. Winners will be notified, and prizes awarded by October 10th so be sure to leave your EMAIL Address!

Blog Tour Dates/Stops:
8/11 Gail Pallotta’s Peering Through Life’s Window
8/13 Liz Flaherty’ Word Wranglers Blog
8/15 Clare Revell’s The Word Can Wait Blog 
8/18 Southern Writers Suite T Blog
8/18 Alina K Field’s Simply Romance Blog
8/20 Penelope Marzec’s Bookish Thoughts Blog
8/25 Jana Richards’ Romance Story Board Blog
8/27 Beverly Bateman’s BLOG
9/1 Valarie Goree’s Facebook Page
9/5 D. V. Stone’s Campfire Blog 
9/9 Jacqueline Seewald’s BLOG
9/11 Linda Rondeau’s Snark & Sensibility Blog
9/14 Patricia Kioyno’s Four Foxes, One Hound Blog
9/18 Diane Burton’s BLOG
9/22 Alicia Dean’s BLOG
9/25 Jeny Hickman’s BLOG
9/30 Linda Nightingale’s Author…Musings Blog​

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Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

God Bless you Pam. 

And before we go, remember summers not over and it's never to late for ice cream. The One Scoop Or Two Series is still going strong. Even when the chill of fall and winter is upon us, you can always escape to the beach or the lake with one of these tasty treats. Check them out at www.amazon.com/s?k=one+scoop+or+two+wild+rose+press&i=digital-text&crid=2KJT8J0VT82EZ
​Hae

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