I spent the weekend working at putting together a great newsletter. Better than average, anyway. I compiled all of my new subscribers (WELCOME to over 600 of you!) and pressed "send." Long story, short...I have a lot to learn about sending out newsletters. I have a lot to learn about basic technology in general.

Instead of letting the work of sending you an update go to waste, here's what I've been up to:

* Last month I led a session on Legacy writing for the Flourish Writer’s Conference. I met so many wonderful people from all over the country who are excited about writing their stories of faith and family history. 
 
* I’m currently one of the experts in Tricia Goyer’s online Facebook group called Write That Book. Each week Tricia posts a new unit for writers and each day an expert in the writing and publishing industry go live to answer questions and give their expertise. It has been great to gather with agents, authors, publishing houses, and other industry experts. 
 
* Finally, I had another story published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Grandparents. This title was released just a few days ago. I’ll be participating in a Twitter party to celebrate the new release. If you’re hanging around on Twitter this Tuesday, April 2 from 1-2 PM Central, I’d love to hear from you. #CSSGrandparents 

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* SPEAKING OF GRANDPARENTS:  I've discovered my new purpose in life....being a GRANDMA! Two days a week, I have a special visitor who might just be the most special little guy on the planet. Each day is a new adventure with a baby in the house. My youngest two kids at home are teenagers and even though I don't get it...they seem to find mom kind of annoying. It's nice to have someone around who thinks it's absolutely hilarious every time I sneeze. Life as grandma is the best.

If I do get this email/newsletter/subscription thing figured out, you can bet that I won't be clogging up your inbox. Honestly, I don't have time for that, and I know you don't either.

But I do want to share information with you about legacy writing, writing tips, and resources you might find helpful.

So my question for you is, what would you like to see or know? If we were sitting down for coffee together, what would you ask me? 

I'll be answering those questions in  future blogposts.

Or maybe in an email.

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I'm participating as  one of the faculty members for Flourish Gathering's online writers' conference. I'll be speaking about legacy writing, what it is, why all Christians (writers and non-writers alike) should care about legacy writing, and ways to actually write your story for the purpose of leaving a spiritual legacy. If you found out about me through this conference, send me a note, I'd love to hear from you.

If you haven't registered for this conference, you'll really want to. Why? 
1. It's FREE! Register here: FLOURISH WRITERS' CONFERENCE
2. For 6 days you'll hear from 25 authors, publishing and marketing experts.
3. I'll be there! ;)
4. You can attend this conference in your pajamas. (I may or may not have recorded my session wearing my pajamas. But you can't tell because I wore make-up!) It's everything a writers' conference offers delivered to you in the comfort of your home.
5. Did I mention that it's free? Use the link above!


​I'd also like to mention that the designers from Flourish helped me to create a beautiful Legacy of Faith Journal. If you decide to subscribe to receive emails from me, you'll receive this as my personal "thank you." I love this journal because you can record and preserve your testimony and eye-witness accounts of your own encounters with God. I think you'll love it too. 

The email subscription link in on the home page.

And while you are here, feel free to walk around and get to know the place. Open the cupboards, rummage through the drawers. Get to know my story a bit. When you are comfortable, I hope you'll share a bit of yours! 

It's book release day for my author friend and literary agent, Cynthia Ruchti! If you like contemporary fiction with elements of hope and faith weaved throughout, then you will love all of Cynthia's books.

I'm excited to get started on this one. I've included a link where you can check it out for yourself. 

Speaking of links, I'm giving this amazon affiliate program a try. Just so you know,  I don't share resources lightly, and my intentions are not to throw  links out all willy-nilly making you think I'm trying to get rich.

But hey, if it can help support my own reading habit, it's worth trying out.

​Anybody else use the Amazon Affiliate Program? 

I know it's been a long time coming. I know I need to post regularly and be more engaged with readers and social media followers. I've known that I needed to be more intentional about gathering a following of people interested in the work I do. Or even just interested in what's going on with me. (without being a stalker about it.)

Why?

Because my agent says so. 

Followers bring an audience, and engagement shows interest. Apparently these are important things to potential publishers. 

So I've been researching and learning and taking notes. It would all be super easy if I could hire a web designer, a tech person, a social media expert, and someone to give me a massage and cook my dinner and make sure my coffee mug is full. 

But it's just me. 

Come on....you can say it...I know you want to! You can help me out in a HUGE way by following me on some of my social media accounts. Sign up for my email list. (don't expect more than one email a month. or one email per season. Let's go with the second one!)
Click on the social icons and come hang out with me on social media. I'll be cleaning some of these up to be more relevant to life, living, life-story, legacy and writing over the coming weeks. 

No promises on how quickly all this will happen. 

Unless someone wants to come cook my dinner, bring me coffee and give me a massage. It's amazing how much I can get done when motivated by food, caffeine, and the promise of relaxation.