Surely I'm not the only one who feels there is never enough time to do all that's required of me in a given day. I may check items one through eight off my list, but I go to sleep with nine and ten still hanging over my head.

Recently, things have changed in my home to the point that I feel like a single mom. I know it's just a season, but the effect it's having on my writing career is discouraging. After all, I have set several personal deadlines since I returned to writing a year ago and have been unable to keep even seventy-five percent of them.
 
My current goal is to have a finished manuscript by the end of this month. I'm only two chapters and an epilogue away, but when to fit it in! When I'm finished, it's my intention to enter the Genesis, a writing contest for unpublished authors offered by ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). The deadline is March 15, exactly one month from today. With God's help, I will accomplish these two goals.

What do you do when it seems like there isn't enough time in a day? After asking for God's direction, simply do the next thing and trust that your day has been ordered by the Lord. 

When you read the title of this post, I doubt you will be thinking of the kind of proposal I am referring to. Though I am a big fan of the marriage proposal, the one mentioned here has to do with writing.

I can hardly believe it, but today marks exactly one month from the day I left for the ACFW conference in Dallas. I went to my first writer's conference with very high hopes and a personal goal of having at least one publishing house request a full proposal of my current manuscript. I am happy to say, I met my goal!

One came from Jan Stob, the Senior Acquisitions Editor at Tyndale House Publishers. I was privileged to speak with Jan on a few occasions at the conference and we also had an appointment together. Though Tydale's schedule is full until 2014, she gave me her business card and requested that I send her a full proposal. What an amazing achievement!

Another request came from one of those 'ordained to meet in the hall' moments. My conference roommate, author Lacy Williams, had assisted Julie Gwinn during the spotlight for B&H Publishers. As the Fiction Manager for B&H, Julie shared during the spotlight that she is looking for WWI stories in a series. Lacy had been helping me prep my manuscript for coneference, so she knew that was exactly what I had to offer. It took a couple of days for me to catch up with her, but when Lacy introduced us and said I had a WWI story, Julie stopped in her tracks. The result was that she took my one sheet and my chapters, and I was given her business card in return. This request was actually the first I received and I was so excited that, when I saw Julie later,  I had to ask just exactly what it was she wanted from me. She was very kind and explained she wanted me to send a full proposal! 

Not just one, but TWO requests for a full proposal! The outcome is still in God's hands, just as this entire venture has been all along. Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to go to conference and for hope regarding my future in writing.

Now I just need to finish the manuscript and send in my proposals. :-)

Postmaster Missy

I'm nearing the end of my first day at the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) conference and my head is already full. I have met up with friends, made a few new ones and I've attended workshops with actual authors! I look forward to trading in my 'First Time Attendee' ribbon on my name badge, for an an 'author' ribbon at a conference in the near future.

Being around so many great authors and hearing about their personal road to publication has left me feeling both encouraged and challenged. It hasn't been easy for even one of them, but the authors who are here are the ones who have pressed passed the difficulties in order to attain their dream.

Is there something you believe the Lord has been calling you to do? It may not be to write a best selling novel, but if He's put a dream in your heart, don't bury it with the excuse of not having enough time, or perhaps thinking it would be too hard. Go for it!

I would love to hear the dream of your heart. Please share it with me in your comment so I can cheer you on along the way. Blessings from Dallas, TX.
Postmaster Missy

I'm sitting in a coffee shop with the most beautiful picture of rose suspended above my head. I wish I could take it home.

Why, you might ask? Well, I'm glad you did. Roses are my favorite flower, especially ones that are pink and yellow. They have always been a part of my decor. For example, before we had our son, we had a guest bedroom that we called "The Rose Room." My use of roses is a little more subtle now, but the theme is still carried throughout the house.


It all started when I was in middle school. My Dad was a bit of a romantic and gave me my first rose corsage when he took me out for a special evening. From that time on, I've enjoyed every rose given to me - whether it came from my parents after a performance, or from a suitor. And now, my sweet husband carries on the tradition.

Before we were married, he sent a dozen roses to my work as a gift to me for Valentine's Day. Some of the ladies there told me to enjoy it, because it wouldn't happen again once we got married. Well, he proved them wrong, good man. In fact, for our anniversary each year, he gives me the number of roses that equal the number of years we've been married. How sweet! Of course, the central flowers in my wedding bouquet were also roses. 


Did you know that roses mean different things, based on their color? Yellow roses represent friendship, white roses represent purity, and red roses represent love.

Anyone else love roses as much (or more) than I do? Hey, if you'd like to send me some, they'll gladly be accepted. :-)
Postmaster Missy