Merry Christmas 2024

 

Article El Reno Tribune, et al.

 The following is the link to an interview by the El Reno Tribune earlier this month.

https://www.elrenotribune.com/news/out-valley

Podcast Sisters in Crime

 I am excited to share with you the following interview conducted by Melanie B. Hyman with Tornado Alley Mystery Writers.  You may use the link or query it through Apple, Spotify, or Google  

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tornado-alley-mystery-writers/id1600729995?i=1000627958196

Wind of Change

 Hello my sweet friend, 

Writing on book 4, Wind of Change, but it is happening slowly as it’s CHRISTMAS TIME and Advent has begun.  I host several groups but do it all in one week and then I can kick back.  I had one church group Monday night, roast, potatoes and Grandma Elsie’s green beans, bacon, onions and all. Tonight is El Reno Bunco, fixing quiche. Tomorrow morning is CADW’s Cabinet meeting. Then I’m squeezing in a massage before Thursday morning CWF and then finish up with OKC’s Bunco Thursday night and also my sisters birthday here. Friday is Luke Combs concert with my best friend, Eilene.  

Last night, Kelsie FaceTimed me and had some one on one with the twins  Three and a half months.

Hope you have a great Christmas!

Love and hugs,

💞💞💞

Sweet Summer Rain has been published

 Hello, my Sweet Friend,

Just a quick update. Sweet Summer Rain is now available on Amazon Books. I'm getting good reviews so I would appreciate it if you would place your review after you have had time to read. Reviews can be written at the same location of book purchase.

Before I gave the final okay I read through and Glen came to me at the same places as when I was writing and I also, cried at the same places I had cried while writing.

Hope you enjoy and let me hear from you. Your encouragement keeps me going.

Love and hugs,

Carol 

 

 

 

Release of book three and background on why it didn’t get released in 2018

     Book Three, "Sweet Summer Rain" is at the editors and I'm writing Book four in my Season’s series, Wind of Change.

     I can guarantee you one thing, Connie and JJ get married but, I, as well as you, are anxious to know where life leads these three couples.  

    I, also, would like to explain why, “Sweet Summer Rain” didn’t get published in August of 2018.

    I finished “A Different Season” in August of 2016. And continued, as usual writing on “Mist of the Moment” and it was done in August of 2017. I continued, again, as usual on “Sweet Summer Rain.”

    And that’s when my life stopped. My son, and it brings me to tears to say my son, Christopher Glen Nichols, was diagnosed with Calciphylaxis and given six months to live. Chris was at deaths door for the continual six months. His wife, Marilyn quit work to just be with him. He was in and out of the hospitals as his body fought the disease.

    If you know me, I write my life. I cannot seem to write something I haven’t lived. So, the following was “Sweet Summer Rain” during Chris’ fight to survive dated February 2018 but wasn't published. 

SWEET SUMMER RAIN 

CONSTANCE LOUISE SINCLAIR 

Weary and worn, I awake to the unthinkable.  How could this have happened, Lord? I rise and listlessly walk the usual path, indeed the ordinary steps of life I repeat day after day.  As I open the drapes and thank God for the sunshine instead of the miserable twelve-degree temperature of the last few weeks my heart screams out to God asking for understanding and for my friend as she faces the first day empty, alone and depleted.

Connie’s mind reverts to the happenings of prior days where her dear friend, Rosie, with dreams unrealized, barren and lost, watched as the tiny coffin was lowered into the ground.  Connie shivers and recalls as Rosie fell to her knees on the unyielding frozen earth removing her only son from her forever.

    I do bible studies every morning and one was on Rahab and the red cord of protection she hung out her window. I said, Lord I can do that, and I hung a red ribbon in my front window.

    Then I read about the woman with the blood issues and her healing after touching the hem of Jesus’ garment. So, I placed a white ribbon with the red.

    The next was Jesus Calling and the gold cord of faith and hope. I placed the gold ribbon, and it curled around the red and white.

    Chris called and said, “Mom, I think I’m feeling a little better today.”

    I told him about the ribbons as he continued to not thrive, not improve but just endure, just be. When he was sick, he would be in bed. When he wasn’t sick, he would be up cooking, doing and just being alive for that moment.

    On September 3, 2021, Christopher Glen Nichols walked or as he said, strolled my last granddaughter to marry down the aisle in Sedgwick, Kansas. We all commented it was like a family reunion without going to a funeral. He felt remarkable. Was lively and joking, as always. Lots of pictures. Thank you, Lord for the pictures.

    The kids left for a two-week honeymoon and one week to the day on September 10, 2021, Chris passed of a heart attack. I don’t remember much about the funeral, but I do remember the heartache of watching my only son’s casket being lowered into the cold dark earth.

    On a brighter note. Trey and Kelsie welcomed twins, August 23, 2022. A boy and a girl. What blessings. 

    Back to "Sweet Summer Rain". I had the small excerpt mentioned above and that book over two thirds done when Chris seemed to be getting better. I stopped writing on it and about three years later I started another "Sweet Summer Rain", and the child lives but in real life the child doesn’t.

    I knew I couldn’t be sad because of the blessing of my son being in my life, sooooo I took partial book one and partial book two and shuffled them together. I felt so good. So good because I could write what Chris did as a baby, like when he was asleep, I could move his bed and sweep under and around him and he never woke. These parts are my healing just as Book 1, "A Different Season", was my healing through Glen’s passing. I can tell you that I loved Glen with my whole body and soul but when it is your child it is a whole different pain. So, I thank you my dear sweet readers for letting me write for you. Your encouragement is beyond words, and I am anxious to continue the series with "Wind of Change".

 

 

 

 

Pictures of journal and first book attempt

 I forgot to post picture of my journal showing my first attempts. 

Yet, one more season of my life!

 I have been debating how to get this out to my book readers, so just gonna blog it.

  My husband, Glen, passed in 2014. I started journaling, then putting my feelings on social media. My friends said I was making them sad. So I stopped. Then I saw a small ad in the local paper asking a simple question, "Have you ever thought about writing?"

  I looked at Patches, my Jack Russell terrier, and said, "I believe I might give it a try."

  The first day I went to the group, Creative Quills, was May 10, 2016, and you are asking, how I know the date for certain. Well, I was scared to death. I hadn't even brought writing material, but the sweet lady who started the class, Andrea Foster, quickly handed me a college composition book, the pen I managed to fish out of my purse. Thank you, Lord, for small favors. We wrote to music and I came up with nothing. A big fat zero. Andrea still reminds me that everyone in the class thought I would not return, but I did and on May 24, 2016, I once again sat meekly, only listening, and then...

     Eureka, Andrea passed a box full of names and everyone took one. I drew, Rosie Redmond. I started writing, as I felt Rosie was an old friend. Just by holding that small strip of paper I immediately knew that Rosie was a scrubwoman in a high-rise office building and she had a friend named Sadie. The beginning of my first book and book 1 of my 'Season's Series' "A Different Season" was born. It was non-stop writing, and a lot of sticky notes I used to capture my every thought before I forgot. (Now I use my phone.) Book one was finished on August 22, 2016. I know now, that was in record time.

   Andrea, anxious to promote each person set up an interview with a newspaper that sent a reporter. When it was my time, I said I was through with my first book, A Different Season, thus named because I am in a different season than all my other friends. But to my astonishment, I kept talking and said my second book is, "Mist of the Moment", third, "Sweet Summer Rain" and fourth, "Wind of Change" Wow, everyone turned and looked at me. Where did that come from? Then the lady next to me leaned in and said, "Oh, a season's series, nice." Well, no it wasn't, but thank you, now it is."

  Book two, "Mist of the Moment" flew by much like "A Different Season". Then came book three, "Sweet Summer Rain."

   This is where I will leave you for now, because the most difficult part to relate is the next season of my life.

    Had a glorious trip to O'ahu and had to wear a mask on the flights, but during orientation on our first flight, they said that on April 18, 2022 CDC has removed the mask mandate on all planes and in airports, thank you, Lord.

    We flew in on Friday, March 25th, and the Uber driver said there was to be a celebration in Honolulu at 11:59 and we should stay up so we did, and at 11:59 everyone throw their mask away. Facial freedom was liberating.

       Hello everyone. Thank you so much for the likes and comments I've received. The Pandemic has opened up a whole different world for a lot of us. At least for me, it is strange being unable to dash here and there unconcerned and oblivious to any danger greater than the flu. 

      Streaming is all-consuming and six seasons of Longmire went quickly but looking for another Netflix high is near impossible. What has been your binge?

    I did plant a small garden and the wonderful people at Ross' delivered my plants. The tomatoes and onion on my scrambled egg sandwich were the best. I want butter lettuce next year. At the other house, we had asparagus that had made its way from our neighbors and is only a fond memory now. 

        My little Jack Russell, Patches had a birthday last month and is fifteen but hasn't slowed down much. He loves keeping the squirrels in tip-top shape and a walk in the park is on his daily agenda.

            Okay, it's your turn. Read any good books lately???

           What's your go-to comfort food? I'm thinking goulash. Maybe not cold enough for goulash and fried potatoes just yet. I could handle okra though.

            Great having this chat, so until next time wishing you all the best and sending prayers of protection for you and yours. God is good.💞

My blog opened this morning and I wondered what it wanted from me. As you know, I only like posting positive comments so I won’t relate about the plumbing issues but will tell you about a wonderful little church my Sister and I visited on our trip to the east coast.  It was raining cats and dogs on this Sunday morning and men were in the parking lot with umbrellas at the United Methodist  Church in Lizella, Georgia. I was researching material for the next book and was determined, Charleston, Beaufort and Savannah held the answer but since the books name is Sweet Summer Rain I might be mistaken. If you are on social media join them and soak up (no pun intended) some southern worship with these Godly people.  Hugs💞

Headed to vote. If you are registered please thank God for our liberty and freedom and go cast your ballot. If you are not registered please do so before our next election. This is how your voice is heard even though I’m a little disheartened over the 60 minute report of congress facilitating the spread of opioids by taking power from FDA, but by voting we can let our voices be heard.

What do you do on a rainy day? Patches believes laying and watching it rain is perfect.

Hard to believe that another week is gone.  I’m in my favorite morning spot, my morning reading area in the north side of the south. This is where I have coffee and see what the Lord has to say through my bible studies I subscribe to.

The rain is such a blessing, thank you, Lord. I have a few limbs down but the garden tours this morning will be the real challenge.  Robin Glenn is one of the homes on the tour so be sure and stop by.

Sunday after church I fixed chicken fried steak for my son and his wife and great grandchild.  Yummy.  The baby ate three corn on the cob. Kept her the rest of Sunday and Monday. She is such a joy and we had great time. She loved it when the mowers came and we rotated our viewing options to stay current.

Tuesday was busy starting with Creative Quills writing group at Carnegie Library then lunched at Our Glass. It was Colin’s Birthday.  I’m no telling his age.

Left there ran home changed clothes and went to help with Blessing Baskets summer food program. A lot of needy families are better off after their visit. Thank you, Lord for this nonprofit organization.

Left there and grabbed a brown bag and ate with Share and Care group and played dominos. I didn’t win 😥 but we just enjoy playing the game, right.  Keeps our mind young.  Wonder what it does for our bodies.  Lol

Came home and wrote some more on Sweet Summer Rain until after midnight then got up and wrote Wednesday until class time at Write, Publish and Market your book.

Thursday I wrote a little and fixed broccoli cheese casserole for Bunco in Choctaw.  DID I WIN?😥But I Just, well you know the rest.

Spent the night with my Sister and now back to writing and thanking God for the blessing of this gentle rain ☔️ we are receiving.

Hugs...

Attended OKRWA meeting Saturday at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art and the guest speaker was Mel Odom. He spoke on the pros and cons of New York publishing via an Agency or Self-publishing.  He also told about the difference in royalties received from each. He touched on Amazon, Kindle and said Kindle Unlimited is the best thing out there. Time with him was so limited that I am eager for his return through OKRWA or another venue. I did tag him on FB.  Seems he is into building.

Ebook contest

Have you ever thought about entering your ebook in a contest.  Well now is your chance.  Good luck!
Enter your Ebook in the International Digital Awards!!! Here are just a few of the perks:
~ Great prizes
~ Bragging rights
~ A chance to get your book in front of potential lifelong fans
~ Low entry fee
Enter your short, novella, or novel fiction in a contest where you’re judged on your STORY, not on how many friends vote for you. Readers will judge and score your work, based on their enjoyment of it. Even if you don’t place, you will gain exposure to at least three new readers!
Fee: $25.00 for Novels, $20.00 for novellas and short stories (2017 winners and finalists receive $5 off)

Deadline: July 30, 2018
Eligibility: Any ebook with a copyright date of 2017 or 2018 that was available for sale in 2017 or 2018 and is NOT available for purchase in mass print. (Ebooks that are available as POD's are eligible) *** If your book previously finaled in, but did not win, the IDA, it is eligible for re-entry.

Entry: Non DRM PDF as email attachment

Categories: (All of the following offer BOTH a short/novella and a Novel category in each genre) Contemporary, Erotica, Historical, Inspirational, Paranormal, Suspense, Young Adult

Judges: Readers, including other unpublished and published authors.
·        Prizes: Prizes: First place winners will receive an engraved paperweight. Winners and finalists will receive certificates. PLUS - additional prizes for winners include...
·        Featured on a minimum of 3 blog posts
·        Featured in a "winner" video trailer that will be shared on FB, tweeted, and featured on at least 3 blogs and websites
·        Multiple Tweets and Facebook posts
·        Featured on a special IDA Winners Pinterest Page

FMI: https://okrwa.com/contests/international-digital-awards/

That’s a first for me!

I’m doing a piece on “That’s a first for me!” So let me hear from you...
On social media use #thatsafirst.
Thanks

In “A Different Season” twists and turns will have you intrigued in places, filled with doubt and longing in others...
Please let me know if you agree??

Attended Romance Writers of America Oklahoma Chapters retreat last weekend and felt truly  fulfilled.  What a wonderful weekend.  Love and encouragement from fellow writers plus I won a gift basket.  Guess what?  It contained several books and A DIFFERENT SEASON was one of them. Thank you, Lord for your blessing of growing sales.