Saturday Share Recipe - Sausage and Bean Stew

If you're trying to eat healthier by adding more legumes to your diet, today's recipe can help.

If you want a vegetarian version of this dish, simply eliminate the smoked sausage.

A WORD ABOUT BEANS

Use this recipe as is, or cook your own beans rather than using canned beans. Of course, that takes advance preparation so if you need to make this quick and easy, add canned beans to your pantry.

You can use any kind of canned bean you like. In fact, you can mix and match beans different from the ones in the recipe.

Your local supermarket probably has several brands. As far me, I try to get Trappey's, for sentimental reasons I guess. We lived near a Trappey's cannery when I was a kid so my Mom always used Trappey's brand.

They also come as plain beans or a spicy variety wtih hot peppers and slab bacon seasoning. Just another way to add seasoning. 

To make this dish spicy without the Trappey's brand or even with it, use Rotel tomatoes instead of stewed tomatoes.

If you don't use Tony's, maybe give it a try. Since I grew up in Louisiana, Tony's Creole Seasoning is almost a requisite ingredient in many of the things I cook.

For those who really like big, bold flavor and who isn't afraid of heat, try Tony's sidekick  spice,Slap Ya Mama. 

SAUSAGE AND BEAN STEW

Ingredients

1 pound of smoked sausage, sliced

1 medium bell pepper, diced

1 medium to large onion, diced

2 cans stewed tomatoes or Rotel

1 can red beans, drained and rinsed

1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1 can great northern beans, drained and rinsed

1 teaspon Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. In a large Dutch oven, brown the smoked sausage, remove from pan and set aside.

2. Drain all the beans and rinse.

3. Saute the onion and bell pepper in the drippings from the sausage. 

If that's too much fat for your diet, drain the rendered fat away and use some olive oil to saute the vegetables.

4. When the vegetables are soft but not browned, add the tomatoes, all the beans, and the seasonings.

5. Simmer about fifteen minutes on low then add the seasonings and the cooked smoked sausage. Simmer another 10 minutes. Make sure the liquid doesn't cook down too low.

6. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper if needed.

7. Serve over rice and with cornbread.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

This is actually an economical dish to make, and it serves a lot. Even better, it's the kind of comfort food we all love.

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My Week In One Word

Thank goodness it's Friday. If I had to use one word to describe my week, that word is BUSY.

Yes, I edited a book and got it uploaded, designed 4 new book covers, wrote a chapter in the new book, created 2 new FB ads, started editing another book, cleaned up my office, filed a gazillion papers, worked on a spreadsheet to judge the performance of my FB ads, and then there was...

THE PERSONAL SIDE OF MY LIFE

I cleaned up the guest room since we're expecting a house guest, and that meant I had to remove all of the income tax documents from the guest bed since I use it as a conference table.

The guest bed? Well, yes. It's a large surface that isn't used until someone comes to visit so it's perfect for organizing papers and projects. (One of these days, I hope to again have a larger office with a table for that purpose, but for now, I use what I have.)

Groan. Income tax. Yes, I started on that, and today we'll finalize it and get it shipped off. Also upped my workout routine with weights, cooked at least 2 meals most of the days—Darling Hubby did the other meals in between working on his own projects—and kept my patio plants watered since we had a lot of wind every day that dehydrates them.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

 Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by all of different tasks I undertake as a self-published author, but I tend to believe what Deepak Chopra once said, "All great changes are preceded by chaos.”

How was your week?

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25 for 2025 - Achievement Fatigue?

When you're working on a long-term project, it can begin to feel as if you're pushing a giant boulder up a steep hill.

I call this achievement fatigue. I don't know if that's a real phrase I've heard somewhere or if I just came up with it, but it definitely applies.

Sometimes when you're working the same project day after day, you start to feel as if it will never be completed. That's usually when you falter and may think about quitting.

Hang in there. Hold fast to the visualization of the end of the project—the culmination—the point when it's over, and you've done it!

That's persistence and that's what it takes to achieve anything worthwhile which brings me to...

MARCH UPDATE OF 25 FOR 2025

I've accomplished a lot this month by consistently working on my big projects—new book covers, new file formats, editing older books, writing the new book, and other writing-related tasks that many of you may not relate to.

When that "achievement fatigue" began to hit me, I knew it was time to shake things up so I broke my day into two—before noon and after lunch. 

Before noon, I began working on my spring garden and new landscaping. After lunch, I went to my office and started on the writing work I had scheduled for the day.

This change-up works for me because while I'm working in the yard, my brain is busy with the plot, characters, and upcoming scenes in the book I'm writing. Plus, I get some much needed physical activity.

Because I'm thinking about my work in progress, I'm ready to get started when I hit the office.

HAVE A PLAN WHEN FATIGUE HITS

I think many of us try to push past "achievement fatigue" and keep our noses firmly on the grindstone, but that can be counter-productive. In fact, our malaise may continue to grow until we hit the wall and just want to quit.

Plan for that. Know what you're going to do when you reach the point that you just don't want to do it a minute longer.

RECAP OF PROGRESS REPORTS ON 25 FOR 2025

If you want to check in on the monthly progress reports, click the link to read each.

#1 for 2025

Be realistic in setting goals, planning work, or writing resolutions. If you find yourself constantly feeling overwhelmed, take a step back and look at your expectations. Are they realistic?

#2 for 2025

Use a day planner to be accountable and to stay on task. Make scheduling your work  a daily habit because it will make the goal ever-present in your mind which will make you accountable. This is a profound key to accomplishment.

#3 for 2025

Attack your long-term projects persistently and consistently. A mountain can be moved one shovelful at a time, and a big project can be completed, one small segment at a time. 

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Nothing lasts forever. If you're trying to achieve something amazing, give yourself the best shot at it by planning for that "hit the wall" feeling that will crop up. Change your attack, and you'll come out on top.

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Saturday Share Recipe - Peach Salad

I suppose you can guess that I've been eating a lot of salads lately since I keep giving recipes for salads.

One reason I'm always looking for a new salad recipe is that salads can be boring—a bowl of greens, a few add-ins and your usual dressing day after day gets monotonous.

Today's recipe is a fruit salad, but this is what I typically serve for dessert in warm weather.

It has some of my favorite fruits and the dressing actually comes from the peach pie filling as it melds with all the other fruits.

The ingredients can be a mix of fresh and canned to make life easy for you. It's cold, delicious, and sweet enough to pass as dessert.

First I want to tell you this new Duncan Hines Comstock Peach Pie Filling. The only ingredients in this canned product are: peaches, water, sugar, cornstarch, peach juice concentrate, and citric acid. No HFCS, no preservatives, no vegetable gums. It's probably as "clean" as a canned product can be.

The link is for a case of the peach pie filling on Amazon. If you're like my family and love peach anything, you may want to buy the 8 can case. At Walmart, this can is almost $9.67—talk about sticker shock!!! At Amazon, a case of 8 breaks down to $3.60 a can. ($28.83 a case.)

PEACH SALAD

Ingredients

2 (15 and 1/2 ounce cans chunk pineapple, drained

2 (11 ounce) cans mandarin oranges, drained or 2-3 fresh oranges, peeled and diced

16 ounces fresh strawberries, sliced (or frozen if you can't find fresh)

4 large bananas sliced

1 (21 and 1/2 ounce) can Duncan Hines Comstock Peach Pie Filling

Directions

If using canned fruit, drain and save the liquid for mixing with other juices.

Mix the pineapple, oranges, strawberries, and bananas in a large bowl.

Add the peach pie filling to the fruit in the bowl and gently combine well.

Cover the bowl and refrigerate overnight.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

This is so good, you'll get rave reviews. You can also serve it as a topping for vanilla ice cream or pound cake for those who like a serious hit of sweetness.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

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Gave Myself a Gift - Video Camera for YouTube

Ever since I made my first video using my cell phone, I've thought about buying a dedicated video camera. The thing that deterred me was the price point.

I'd read various articles online about what you need to make good videos for YouTube, etc. but the equipment listed always seemed to be expensive and top of the line—not something for a rank amateur like me.

Since I'd been shopping the Amazon Spring Sale every day, I was excited when I saw a video camera—the Yigllo 4k Digital Camera—under $100.00 listed.  

It's actually $59.99 reduced from $89.99. Even though it had 933 ratings averaging 4.3 stars with 76% of the reviews being 5 stars, I was skeptical. Would it be good enough to create a good video?

I searched online for reviews of the specific camera offered for sale. I found it listed on Buyers Guide.org which does receive compensation from advertisers, but the Amazon Users' Reviews are persuasive that this is a good camera.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner.

BUYERS GUIDE REVIEW

"In conclusion, the YIGLLO 4K Digital Camera offers impressive resolution, user-friendly design, and essential features that cater to both casual and professional photographers. 

"By considering factors such as resolution, user-friendliness, and battery life, you can determine if this camera is the right fit for your photography needs. 

"With its reliable performance and advanced capabilities, the YIGLLO 4K Digital Camera is a worthy contender in the digital camera market."

Honestly, I don't think a pro would be buying this camer, but after perusing the web page, I decided it was exactly what I was looking for. Maybe if I really get into making videos, I might upgrade in a few years, but that's still to be determined. 

I also purchased a tripod for desk top use or extendable to 4+ feet. After using both these items, I'll post a review of both. I might be able to get that done before the Spring Sale expires, but no promises. I have a trip to make this weekend.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

This was an easy purchase—an investment to see if making YouTube videos is something I will enjoy doing—and would actually do on a regular basis.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

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Thank You, Vivian Stephens For Romance Genre

You may have seen this on LinkedIn which is where I saw it when Shirley Hailstock posted it.

I've reposted it to Facebook, but I wanted to share it here too.

WHO IS VIVIAN STEPHENS

If you're not a romance author, you may not know who this remarkable lady is.

Ms. Stephens has been an Editor at Publishing houses, an Agent, and an Author, but one of the most significant contributions she made was to the Romance Genre as a whole when she co-founded Romance Writers of America.

Here's a little about her, but I hope you'll go to her GoFundMe page and read more about her and be moved to make a donation to help her with her medical and living expenses.

The Romance genre would not be the literary powerhouse it is today without Vivian Stephens. As an Editor for Dell Publishing, she started the Candlelight Ecstasy Romance line of books which soared immediately.

Women were hungry for stories that spoke to them, and women who read the books wanted to write them. Many of those early romance writers are now household names who wrote for Ms. Stephens.

Those early romance authors were mostly ordinary women without any experience in the business. Ms. Stephens saw the need for an organization to teach them important aspects of the business of writing. 

She, along with Parris Afton Bonds, Rita Gallagher, and Rita Clay Estrada, met in Houston, Texas in 1980, and founded Romance Writers of America, an organization with the goal of promoting the genre and supporting the authors, all of whom at one time were women.

SHOWING APPRECIATION

Now, Ms. Stephens is in her 80s and in need of our help. If you have a few dollars to give, please click the GoFundMe link to help this amazing woman.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

All of us who write Romance and read Romance, owe a great big THANK YOU to this romance genre  pioneer. She helped us get to where we are now—the most popular genre fiction in the world.

Review - Den of Thieves 2 Pantera on Netflix

Even though this movie poster says "In Theaters January 10," Den of Thieves 2 Pantera is now streaming on Netflix. In today's world, it seems "in theaters" means you better buy a ticket quick because the film will be pulled after a very short run.

Now, if you're a high action fan—especially if you watched the first film in what seems to be becoming a franchise—you'll probably want to watch this.

I saw the first film which had one of the most original shoot-outs at the climax of the movie. So I decided to give it a chance. Also, Gerard Butler is very underrated actor. I'll always watch any of his films. Sometimes their great, sometimes not. 

Darling Hubby put it on Sunday afternoon, but, before I go into my review, let me tell you what Pantera means. I wasn't familiar with the word, and I'm always interested in the meaning of words.

I thought at first Pantera might refer to a geographic location since the movie jumps from Los Angeles to France to Sardinia, etc. Nope. Not the case. The word is of Greek origin which made its way into Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish.

When pantera became Anglicized, the hard T sound became the soft th, or thuh sound, i.e. panther—a  large leopard, often a black one. Using the word metaphorically, a pantera can be used to describe any large, powerful, dangerous animal or something else that is fast, powerful, and stealthy.

Since O'Shea Jackson Jr. is one of the stars of Den of Thieves 2, the title makes sense, possibly in a descriptive way since he is a strong powerful black man who is also stealthy, fast-thinking and fast to improvise.

If you haven't seen the first Den of Thieves movie, his character is a mastermind thief. 

Gerard Butler is the morally corrupt and questionably honest cop who is the Pantera's nemesis.

MY REVIEW

The movie aligns with the usual action films. The story is basically a cop pursuing a criminal who got the best of him. You'll find action scenes, plenty of violence, crosses, double crosses, and triple crosses.

If you're a fan of the action films Hollywood is turning out, you'll probably like this. If you get bored by unrealistic over the top action sequences, well, you might want to read a good book.

I watched the first 10-15 minutes then I came to my office to edit my book file. It's not that it's a bad film. It just didn't interest me. 

When I returned to the den, the credits were rolling. Darling Hubby gave me a quick recap so I can tell you that there's a big twist in the middle, another twist at the end, and a setup for Den of Thieves 3.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

If you like high octane action, this is your jam. If you don't, read a good book.

Click to buy April Fool Bride for only 99¢ Sale

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

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Spring Sale on Easter Baskets

I was shopping online for a gardening tool I saw last year that I wanted to buy. I always start with Amazon for convenience and saw the banner for their Spring Sale which begins today and ends on March 31.

I saw this cute Bunny Ears Easter Basket aka Spring Basket and had to click on it because it's so darn cute with the detachable bunny ears.

It's made of soft rope which makes it perfect for a small child, but I want it for myself—not for chocolate Easter Eggs but to hold toiletries in my guest bathroom.

It's the perfect size—about 8 inches wide and 12 inches high—won't scratch the vanity, and it's adorable in the soft pink color. It also comes in a light brown color. I'll remove the bunny ears and make the tag say, "Help yourself."

I always keep a basket of sample sized shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc. for guests who may have forgotten their own.

This basket is just under $20.00, but there was a $5.00 off coupon on the webpage when I found this. I think it will be durable and attractive. It's so cute I'll probably leave the ears on until after Easter.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I love it when I find something so whimsical and cute, and it fits a need.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

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Monday Magic Free App - Spoiler Alert

We all have likes and dislikes when it comes to movies. For some people, dislikes can go beyond a simple feeling of distaste.

For those people, a dislike of a certain issue or subject matter is actually a trigger.

Today's free app, Does the Dog Die, offers "Trigger warnings for movies, TV, books, video games and more!"

Some people may have severe reactions to certain subject matters so this warns them in advance so they can choose to avoid movies, television shows, video games, books, etc. that may have emotional and/or physical repercussions for them.

CRUISING THE WEBSITE

The Search bar is front and center at the top, and the Menu Bar is at the bottom of the home page. The Home page shows thumbnails of the many items that have already been reviewed and rated. Simply click on one and you'll see the various warnings.

If you don't see an item, you can search for it. If it hasn't been reviewed, you can suggest it. At that point, you are prompted to set up an account. I didn't see a fee schedule, but in their Terms of Service, it mentions "types of payment accepted."

I suspect this may be in reference to making donations to support various charitable groups. I did not click to set up an account so I can't say for sure.

The site covers several categories which include: 

Violence and death involving humans and animals

Emotional triggers

Sensitive topics like substance abuse

BOTTOM LINE

No account is necessary to check the items that have already been reviewed. Users can search for specific movies, TV shows, books, etc., and the site will indicate whether it contains certain triggers or not.

The site is crowdsourced, meaning users can suggest and vote on new categories and content warnings, and the site tracks 70+ categories like slurs, car crashes, dogs dying, spiders, and cancer.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

If you are your kids have a problem with certain subjects, the site is worth checking out. If you sign up for an account, I would apprecciate information regarding any fee attached to using the site.

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Let's Talk About Burnout

A couple of weeks ago I blogged about Writer's Block, that inability to write or to stay writing.

I had a few more thoughts on the subject that I wanted to share.

I think, for writers, burnout is a reason one can come down with a case of writer's block.

We call it burnout sometimes, but it means we're blocked in some way. Burnout can cause someone to be blocked in just about any career you can name.

You're written day after day for the longest time, and you feel as if there are no more words left in your brain. Overwork in any area without a break leaves one exhausted and stressed out—burned out. 

It's critical for people to take breaks from work. Remember the old axiom, "All work and no play makes Jack and Jill dull people."

Dull and subject to physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion which turns into overstress in all areas. I think mental/emotional stress is worst of all.

When one's career is in the creative arts, the emotional stress is intense.

There's fear of rejection, failure, or success, actual rejection in the ability to sell your creative project or in bad reviews of your creative effort. It all conspires to make one discouraged and/or lack the  confidence in your artistic endeavor.

The fear that one is not good enough can be paralyzing. It's easy to let it all get to you and erode your motivation to continue or to even feel good about yourself.

Yep, that's when you begin to feel the negativity of burnout.

TREATMENT FOR BURNOUT

No matter your field of endeavor, it all begins with your thoughts. What you think about external events and how you internalize that meaning.

You absolutely must cultivate a belief in yourself, your ability, and what you create.

The world is not kind to creative people because it's so hard to prove to the world that what you do is capable of earning you a living which is how most people judge a career as being worthwhile. You must believe in your soul that you are worthwhile and what you do is worthwhile.

If you need a little self-help, you might consider any of the excellent books on building self-esteem and eliminating self-defeating habits. Get Out of Your Own Way: Overcoming Self-Defeating Behavior by Mark Goulston and Philip Goldberg is a good one to start with because it has 3,065 ratings averaging 4.5 of 5 stars. It's available from Amazon in Kindle, Audio, and Paperback.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

That means you must create your own yardstick for measuring yourself, your contribution to your self-esteem, your family, your world, and perhaps to the world at large.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

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Saturday Share Recipe - Veggie Heavy Salad

 If you have a problem getting enough vegetables in your meals, here is a salad recipe that makes it easy with family favorites like pasta and crunchy delicious vegetables too.

It's easy to make, delicious, oh, and it's high in protein too because it uses canned tuna which makes it easy on the budget and the waistline.

The only think you need in addition to the ingredients I'll list below, is a bottle of your favorite salad dressing. Vinagrette, Italian, and Honey Dijon go exceptionally well with this hearty salad. All the vegetables will be cut in julienne strips so they're all approximately the same bite-sized pieces.

VEGGIE HEAVY SALAD

Ingredients

12 ounce package of spiral or other pasta, cooked, drained, rinsed under cold water to cool it

1 head of romaine torn into bite-sized pieces

8 ounces of snow peas

1 zucchini

1 yellow squash

1 cucumber

1 red bell pepper

2 carrots

1 small red onion, thinly sliced with rings separated

2 6-ounce cans or packets of white albacore tuna, packed in water, drained

1 to 1 1/4 cups of your favorite salad dressing, according to how much dressing you like on salad. Start with 1 cup then add more if not sufficiently coated to your taste.

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the vegetables, pasta, and tuna.  Pour the dressing over and toss well. Cover and refrigerate 20-30 minutes before serving. Makes 6 hearty servings.

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A Highlander's Healer by Heide Middlebrook

If you love historicals with a Highlander flair, there's a new author in the genre with the first book in a series named Kellsey Isle's Clans.

Great book cover, isn't it? Grab a coffee and get comfy so I can tell you about A Highlander's Healer by Heide Middlebrook.

A HIGHLANDER'S HEALER

The year is 1411. The campaign season has come to the Highlands of Scotland along with the conflict between Highlanders and Lowlanders in the pursuit of the Earldom of Ross.

Caught in the chaos is young Greer McGray, a bold Scottish healer, and Rory MacKearsin, a talented mercenary for the opposing clan who suffers in silence from a mysterious condition undiagnosable at that time which we now call PTSD.

Greer’s teachings passed down from the medical kindred are tested with her own nonconformist treatments in a race against time to save Rory after Greer finds the mercenary mortally wounded.

Unable to turn him away, her keen medical instincts are placed to the edges of reason when feelings spark between the pair. 

Once Rory discovers a warrior whose obsession with Greer has led to the murder of her brother, Rory vows to protect Greer and seeks justice for her loss. A choice that will force the pair onto a treacherous journey surrounded by Scottish knights, secret castle passages, and Highland spies leading them to the ultimate battle of Harlaw… where Rory’s and Greer’s destinies will be sealed for all time.

Each book in the Kellsey Isle's Clans is a standalone book within a series featuring protective heroes, strong female heroines, adventure, spice, and an epic happily ever after!

Book 2 in Kellsey Isle's Clans: A Red Lion’s Alliances is on the path soon to publication.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Heide Middlebrook writes historical romance novels and stories as an independent author.

History captured her interest as a young girl after touring historical sites, then as a teenager a love for romance reading took root.

Earning her career diploma in freelance writing led her to pen magazine articles, but it was an overwhelming desire to weave a love story occurring during a historical event that inspired her to pursue her dream of becoming a novelist.

Why the romance genre? Those happily ever afters!

Many of her novels are set atop of the Scottish Highlands because of her fascination about the fierce spirit of the people found within Scotland’s history coupled with her Scottish heritage. 

Heide currently resides in south Florida with a herd of four legged friends, including one very opinionated cat.

When not creating stories, she loves to connect with fellow writers in the literary community and continues to hone her craft by attending writing conferences.

In 2024 she established her imprint Passion Leaf Press.  Heide is a proud member of the Alliance of Independent Authors, the Historical Novel Society, and the Romance Writers of America.

Visit Heide Online: Website   *   Facebook

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

If you're looking for a Highlander Historical Romance, A Highlander's Healer just might be your jam. Grab a copy for the weekend because it's only $2.99, and it's also a KU free read. If you like the story, be sure and leave a review for the author.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

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Happy Spring!

Ah, Spring! My grandfather would always laughingly say, "In the spring, a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of love."

As a romance author, my thoughts are never far from love and romance, but today I feel like saying something poetic about how lovely Spring is.

The air smells different, and it caresses the skin. The sunshine is golden, the sky is so blue, and the light is almost translucent.

Sigh. If only I were a poet. Thankfully, there are plenty of poets who have, well, waxed poetically about this loveliest of seasons.

Here's an excerpt from "A Light Exists in Spring" by one of my favorite poets, Emily Dicksinson. The poem is about that special quality of light in the spring that I mentioned. 

Her poem was published posthumously in the 1890s. Her work published before 1923 is now in the public domain which allows me to publish it here. There are a couple of other verses to the poem, but these are my favorite.

A Light exists in Spring
Not present on the Year
At any other period –
When March is scarcely here

A Color stands abroad
On Solitary Fields
That Science cannot overtake
But Human Nature feels.

It waits upon the Lawn,
It shows the furthest Tree
Upon the furthest Slope you know
It almost speaks to you. 

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Do something special today to celebrate this change of seasons. Visit a garden center, buy a tree or a flowering shrub to plant—or just anything that's green and growing. Happy Spring!

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Review - Leap Year on Prime

I should have posted the review of this Irish romance yesterday, but I was busy writing. I'll have my new book up for pre-release in a couple of weeks.

Better late than never though because this 2010 Irish romance truly is a delightful movie. Leap Year, starring Amy Adams and Matthew Goode, is funny, romantic, and emotional.

If you're a Prime subscriber, you can watch free. It's also available to rent on Amazon, Apple, etc. or you can buy a DVD or BluRay of it.

ABOUT LEAP YEAR

When another anniversary passes without a marriage proposal from her boyfriend, Anna (beautifully portrayed by Amy Adams) takes matters into her own hands.

She knows that Celtic tradition allows women to pop the question on Leap Day, Feb. 29, and she plans to follow her lover to Dublin and ask him to marry her. 

However, things don't work out for Anna who winds up on the other side of Ireland with Declan, a handsome, grouchy Irishman.  who may just lead Anna down the road to true love. Determined to reach Dublin, she arranges for Declan to take her there. They embark on a road trip that's funny as all get out.

The forced proximity creates intimacy between them, and Anna begins to find herself conflicted.

Does she still want her boyfriend or does she want Declan? That's not an easy question for her to answer.

When she knows the answer, things don't work out as she'd planned.

DETAILS 

Directed by Anand Tucker from a Screenplay by Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont, Leap Year made good use of the gorgeous scenery of Ireland so I'll give a special nod to the  Cinematographer Newton Thomas Sige. Locations used included Glendalough, Enniskerry, and Connemara.

With a cast headlined by Amy Adams (Anna), Matthew Goode (Declan), and Adam Scott (Jeremy), the characters were brought to life in a way one can't imagine anyone else in those parts. You'll also see some fan favorites like John Lithgow and Bill Nighy.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

This is a captivating, feel good movie so select it for your next movie night.

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Monday Magic - 2 Free Apps for Struggling Writers

Today's app is a little different in that not everyone will be interested in it.

Plot Generator targets those who want to write books. Using it is as easy as visiting the websites.

Select a genre, click the Generate button, and the app serves you up with a plot, complete with a protagonist, secondary character, and a plot.

You can save the plot or hit the reset button to get another.

Here's an example of what I got when I selected Mystery and clicked the Generate Button.

Protagonist — A constable, who can be found at the pub.

Secondary character — A baker, who is suspiciously agreeable.

Plot — It's a spy story about good versus evil. It kicks off at a bank with a mysterious suicide.

(Note that: someone in the story has a reputation to salvage.)

And there's a twist! Someone also faked a death.

If you're trying to write your first book but don't know how to get going, this might help. In fact, Reedsy, the company that created Plot Generator has a free companion app, Studio, to help you plan, write, edit, and format your book manuscript.

Sign up for Studio with your email or use a Google login. The interface looks pretty awesome. I could see an author using one or both of these apps to get the imagination going. In fact, I know a few authors who are wonderful writers, but they struggle to come up with unique plot ideas.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Try these 2 Reedsy apps and let me know if it helps you and how it helps you. Have a great week. 

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