We're Moving

Good Morning.  

Get ready -- we are moving to ONE LOCATION so that you can get inspiration, updates, scripture, periscope -- yes, everything, in one blog in one place.  

After months of waiting

After months of waiting, Out of the Darkness and Into the Light is published and ready for purchase.  Can't wait for the 2019 Book Fest, click here to order your copy today.

Sooner Than Expected

Sooner than expected.  This type of expectancy changes my attitude in the waiting period.  I just had to share it with you today in hopes that it might do the same for you. 

You see, it's deliberate, not accidental.  And while I am waiting this weekend for one of my last readers, my father, to set his eyes on the revised intro to my book, I am doing what I imagine all writers do at this point: 1st, thinking about the next books and 2nd, thinking about what will happen in between now and then.

To be certain, I am not worried like I used to be; instead, I find I am more focused, more driven than ever before to stay on task and complete the final stages of Out of the Darkness and Into the Light and I am more driven than ever before to see it published before moving on to complete the other works I started while in the middle of that project. 

No, I am ahead of myself as we can sometimes get when we are prayerfully, and hopefully anticipating the arrival of some great reward.  I am not anxious and I am not crazy.    

No, I am exactly where I need to be, in exactly the moment I need to be.  Home, sitting behind the keys and finally smiling over all the tasks that were started months ago and years ago -- smiling because I learned so many things about being a writer and about being Louise in the last 12 months.  

I am just so amazed at how awesome God is.

Looking around my office and realizing I will need more space on the walls and on the desk and on the floor because these ideas that I waited a long time to share -- well, they are coming to the surface and while it may seem like it took a really long time to get here, it's still perfect timing and it's still -- sooner than expected.

My Apologies

Sorry it is taking me a while to get the moving parts together for this book of poetry.  Writing about my life has been more challenging and more freeing than I ever imagined it would be.  

Cover Design

Going into contract with graphic artist for book cover design.  

This entire process has allowed me to build relationships along the way:  with God and with others.  

I would not trade it for anything. 

Almost Here

Out of the Darkness and Into the Light is in the design phase and final revisions.  

It continues to be an amazing adventure ;)

Stay True

One of the things I am coming to appreciate more and more in my revision process is how important it is for me to stay true to my story.  

I could have gone a number of different ways to sell a product at the end of January or the end of February because I said that was what I was going to do -- but something greater is happening at the very core of me and it will inspire my readers to reach for the impossible.

I hope you will join me one day for coffee or tea so we can talk about.  

Until then, anticipate the date for the book signing 😃

In the Process

Yesterday, my wife asked me how revising was going and I told her that I was making progress and that I was not crying over it.  I'm not complaining and I'm not frustrated.  I'm here for a reason and I'm going to enjoy the process.

I'm not where I was when I started the revision.  Thank God!!!
I'm not where I thought I'd be at this point, but thank God that I am in the process 😆🔥👏🏾

My my my revision

There's a feeling you get after that much needed break from writing your work -- essay, story, manuscript, thesis -- and you're wondering "Who wrote this?"

My, my, my.  

I'm in the middle of that right now.  

What I found is that although I wrote the manuscript, it didn't sound anything like I thought it did.  It took me a long time to find this new voice of mine inside my head, not the standing up in front of you teacher voice, but the sitting down and having lunch or coffee with you writer voice and to manifest it on paper. 

Now, I'm hard at work because my audience matters to me -- and always has 😉.  

I don't know how many revisions remain, but you'll appreciate the results when you finally get your hands on Waking Up 😆🔥❤️👏🏾

Looking for an Editor?

It can be a challenge to find a great editor like Jessica Hatch, someone you can have a conversation with about your work and what you are actually trying to do, someone who asks clarifying questions and calls you on those moves that seemed so right "in your head." That same editor who delivers the truth about the low points and the high points of your writing.  

You walk away excited and ready to tackle the revision!!

When most people find such an editor, they might try to keep her or him a secret, but  that would be selfish.   If you're still searching for an editor, check out Hatch Editorial Services today.    

Thank You, Darnell Cookman Class of 2018

I want to thank my former students who will be graduating from high school this year.  

Your letters and cards move me -- a couple months ago, to tears, but today -- to joyous laughter and lots of smiles.  

Thank you for being you, then and now.  

A time to REVISE

I met with my editor on January 5th and am now looking forward to the great work of revision which lies ahead of me for the next week or so.  

The joy of witnessing an inspired idea become the work written expressly for you -- that's the joy that revision brings me.  The work is not tedious, but careful, and I go into it, not begrudgingly, but full of compassion and joy -- for you.  

Yes, it's true that there's a time for everything -- and today marks a time to revise.