Loving this new year . . .

I always welcome a new year, and I am happy that our calendars now show 2010!

Like many people, I sometimes feel that time passes much too quickly, so it is not that I am celebrating that aspect of it. I appreciate each and every day, and try to make the most of each and every one because none of us have a guarantee of another.

Someone once asked why I always tell my son that I love him when I talk to him on the phone, or when I am leaving to go someplace. My question was, “why not?” I try to always let my loved ones know what they mean to me as often as possible, and each day is new opportunity to do that.

There is an old wives’ tale that the first three days of the New Year forecast the first three months of the year. I have to laugh at that one! New Year’s Day here was very mild, so one would think the whole month should be, too. Wrong! There have been several days of zero temperatures or below. So, weather forecasting is also not why I am glad to see the New Year.

I am neither into the numerology nor the superstitious beliefs surrounding the New Year, either. And, by the way, I do not believe that the world will end in 2012. I am glad to get that one out of the way, early on! Laughs!

It is really quite simple- I welcome the New Year because of the 12 months of new opportunities that stretch out before me. I am a very visual person, and seeing those new calendar pages remind me that anything is possible on those blank pages.

The squares marking each day are also blank other than the occasional pre-printed holidays. How exciting to anticipate what the New Year will bring to fill those squares! There will be many happy events that occur this year, and most likely the unavoidable sad events, too. The year 2010 will be its own unique story.

Each of us can embrace the New Year – and each day and month in it- to make the most of those new opportunities- live and love life to its fullest.

And, of course- write to the fullest!

Secrets One - The Series

Which comes first . . .

Which comes first .....I bet you thought I was going to say the chicken or the egg, didn't you?

Actually, it is about one of my favorite topics- writing! And, how I process the world around me- in thought, that is.

It occurred to me the other day that even the everyday moments run through my mind like a story, or a seed of a story. Do I think that way because I am a writer, or am I a writer because I think that way?

Writing is not something that I have been trained to do, it is just something that IS inside me. As I have talked about before, I grew up as an only child in a family of readers. So, a love of reading came naturally. Perhaps that had an effect as well. My opinion is that each of us has a skill or gift, as some may say. The influences in each of our lives can enrich our skills or gifts.

In some cases, the opposite may be true- the influences could douse the spark. But at some point in the individual's life, that yearning will make itself known. That person will realize an interest in writing, painting, music...and suddenly feel such contentment! It will all make sense when that yearning is realized.

Back to my question, which comes first - I am still not sure. I am just going to enjoy the ideas and write something!

Secrets One – The Series

Beginning the journey . . .

When I introduced the Marie H. Crain site, I promised to tell about the beginning of Secrets One - The Series.  So today, I thought I would share a little bit about the incredible experience- and journey- that has resulted in the novel being published. This will strictly be from my viewpoint. My co-author, Thomas Jay Wacker, will have his own unique thoughts on the subject, so I do not intend this to be from his perspective.

My co-author and I are not the most likely pairing for such a project. We grew up several states apart and with different backgrounds. Our unlikely meeting was in 2002 in another business venture in a small Colorado community. Some might say the meeting was destined to be- he had returned from England a short time before, and I had not been in the city nor the state long, moving from Ohio.

My take on it is that as we became friends, we soon found we did have some things in common such as the interest in writing, a love of music, and important core beliefs. I had a sense, a premonition if you will, that we would be writing together. At the time though, it seemed unlikely to me since we had met in a different environment.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that my co-author had returned from London with more than just memories! He had the seed of an idea, which he was beginning to grow into a storyline. He offered me the opportunity to participate in the adventure, the journey of co-writing a full-length novel as the beginning of a series.

Now, being a writer, it was like a dream come true. You might think the answer was a quick and resounding yes! But, I viewed it as a very serious commitment, and I gave it a lot of thought and prayer before giving an answer.

Obviously, the answer was finally yes! It has been such a rewarding experience. Yes, writing a full-length novel requires dedication and what some might call hard work.  But, even that is a joy. We have learned what works for us to write together. It is incredibly exciting, and satisfying, when characters come to life and a storyline takes shape, continuing to grow.

While there have been other writing projects in the past, and more to come in the future, Secrets One - The Series is that unique experience for both the writer and the reader.

Secrets One – The Series