I am thankful for the stories that come from my heart and for those who read them.
Inspiration from the Past
Several years ago at St. Mary Cathedral, Sr. Nancy came to choir and told us about St. Michael's Christmas worship space. My husband and I drove to St. Michael's in Oakley, Michigan. They had beautiful stars hanging from the ceiling. Right then I knew we had to find a way to do that the next year at the Cathedral.
I set about searching the internet. I found a site that explained how to cut several stars at once with a band-saw. This is not the same site but it does show how we cut so many stars. The one thing we did differently is drilling through to hold the plywood and the posterboard. We drilled right through the top part of the star, thereby creating a hole to hang the star.
Then we folded the stars - like this site shows - then we spray painted them gold and added gold glitter. We put up signs at the entrances to church that said, "The stars are coming, the stars are coming..." Then had a sign up sheet for people to come help tie the stars to fishing line.
On a Saturday in early December about 25 people helped tie the stars. There were 1,700 stars to attach! We carefully gathered the string and clipped them with a clothespin to keep them from getting tangled. Then when we decorated we crisscrossed the lines all over the church. It looked like we brought the heavens inside the Cathedral.
In the book, A Light Shines Forth, the stars have been used a few times and it is time to retire them. The sisters, Sarah and Julie, from Four Season Friends that are on the Art and Environment Committee ask to reuse them at the Homecoming dance.
I certainly hope you are looking forward to July 2015 when A Light Shines Forth is published.
We are enjoying the crisp cold evenings and some of the days have been sunny. Yesterday was a bit cold. But we drove around a bit on the two tracks and when we got back we had a big fire.
We are camping at the lighthouse at the Tawas Point State Park. The light keeper gave me some information to put in the next book. I can't wait to weave his stories with mine.
It has to do with this door leading to the staircase to the tower. He promised me it really happened just a few nights ago and it gave me shivers when he recounted what happened!
We are camping at the lighthouse at the Tawas Point State Park. The light keeper gave me some information to put in the next book. I can't wait to weave his stories with mine.
It has to do with this door leading to the staircase to the tower. He promised me it really happened just a few nights ago and it gave me shivers when he recounted what happened!
I hope you are looking forward to
"A Light Shines Forth"
coming in July 2015.
Aletheia
The name my niece added when she professed her vows
to become a
Daughter of St. Paul
Sr. Theresa Aletheia
How blessed were we to be a part of this beautiful ceremony.
It will find a way to be in one of my books.
A Light Shines Forth
The most difficult chapter for me to write is the first chapter in each book. "A Light Shines Forth" was no exception. I have worked on this for two days. It may change as I write the other chapters but the basics are there. I already love Ellie and Isabella.
Chapter 1
With eyes filled with wonder, best friends Ellie Emerson and Isabella Miller peered through the window. Several feet below the frothy white waves curled through the icy blue waters of the Great Lake Huron. It didn't matter that they had looked out this window hundreds of times, the majestic view took their breath away each time they stopped at the window.
Their heads close together Ellie whispered, "Do you think she looks out this window at night after everyone leaves?" Her best friend answered with a silent nod.
They pulled away from the window and continued their trek up the last of the eighty five steps twisting toward the sky.
After they reached the top of the winding staircase they entered the glass enclosed tower. Both of them broke into smiles a mile wide. As always they felt as if they could reach out and touch the clear blue skies.
April was their favorite time of year to camp at the Tawas State Park in East Tawas, Michigan. Even though it could be chilly, their families usually had the campground to themselves. Ellie and Isabella pretended the vast park was their kingdom; the lighthouse their castle. They may be eighth graders, but years ago they pinky promised never to grow up too much for their shared kingdom.
Ever since Ellie was two years old her parents had taken her camping at Tawas Point State Park during spring break. That was twelve years ago after a Christmas potluck at their church, St. Mary Cathedral. The Miller and Emerson families sat by each other for dinner. By the end of the night Mr. and Mrs. Miller had convinced the Emerson's to come camping with them.
Isabella's father, Jerry, started volunteering as a lighthouse keeper every spring break, as soon as he turned eighteen. After college he married Kay and they continued the tradition. When Noah, Isabella's big brother was born, Kay and Jerry pulled grandpa's trailer up for the family to camp in while volunteering. Only adults could be lighthouse keepers. Jerry slept in the lighthouse each night while the rest of the family camped in the trailer.
Each year since that potluck the families camped all week. They made minor repairs, painted and landscaped around the lighthouse in preparation for the first visitors. They always came back for the Point Celebration Days, held annually on the second weekend in June. The celebration was filled with fun events offered for the entire family.
All these years Ellie and Isabella had been best friends. They looked like they were complete opposites. Ellie never had to think about how much she ate while Isabella thought about food a lot. Ellie had long blonde hair braided down to the middle of her back. Her mother agreed to let her keep her hair long with only a trim twice a year to keep the ends nice, under one condition. Ellie was not supposed to fuss about getting her hair fixed each morning. No crying or whining that her mother was hurting her with the hairbrush as it worked its way through the snarls. It had been a small price to pay to be able to keep her long hair all her life. Now she brushed her own hair of course.
Isabella on the other hand had short black curls that framed her face. That is to say that today she had short curls. Her Aunt Susie was taking classes to become a hair stylist and whenever she learned something new she tried it out on her niece. Isabella's mother put her foot down and refused to let her sister, Susie color the 9th grader's hair. Isabella's mother had told her daughter several times, "Until you are out of high school there will be no hair dying."
But when it came to the important things in life Ellie and Isabella could have been twins. They both loved being outdoors, especially camping. They loved writing and reading. But most of all they loved to spend long summer days riding their bikes together. They hated doing dishes, folding laundry and history class.
This spring break was going to be extra special. Mr. Miller had received permission to have Isabella and Ellie spend the last night in the lighthouse. The girls were so excited, but very scared. What if they saw her?
Chapter 1
With eyes filled with wonder, best friends Ellie Emerson and Isabella Miller peered through the window. Several feet below the frothy white waves curled through the icy blue waters of the Great Lake Huron. It didn't matter that they had looked out this window hundreds of times, the majestic view took their breath away each time they stopped at the window.
Their heads close together Ellie whispered, "Do you think she looks out this window at night after everyone leaves?" Her best friend answered with a silent nod.
They pulled away from the window and continued their trek up the last of the eighty five steps twisting toward the sky.
After they reached the top of the winding staircase they entered the glass enclosed tower. Both of them broke into smiles a mile wide. As always they felt as if they could reach out and touch the clear blue skies.
April was their favorite time of year to camp at the Tawas State Park in East Tawas, Michigan. Even though it could be chilly, their families usually had the campground to themselves. Ellie and Isabella pretended the vast park was their kingdom; the lighthouse their castle. They may be eighth graders, but years ago they pinky promised never to grow up too much for their shared kingdom.
Ever since Ellie was two years old her parents had taken her camping at Tawas Point State Park during spring break. That was twelve years ago after a Christmas potluck at their church, St. Mary Cathedral. The Miller and Emerson families sat by each other for dinner. By the end of the night Mr. and Mrs. Miller had convinced the Emerson's to come camping with them.
Isabella's father, Jerry, started volunteering as a lighthouse keeper every spring break, as soon as he turned eighteen. After college he married Kay and they continued the tradition. When Noah, Isabella's big brother was born, Kay and Jerry pulled grandpa's trailer up for the family to camp in while volunteering. Only adults could be lighthouse keepers. Jerry slept in the lighthouse each night while the rest of the family camped in the trailer.
Each year since that potluck the families camped all week. They made minor repairs, painted and landscaped around the lighthouse in preparation for the first visitors. They always came back for the Point Celebration Days, held annually on the second weekend in June. The celebration was filled with fun events offered for the entire family.
All these years Ellie and Isabella had been best friends. They looked like they were complete opposites. Ellie never had to think about how much she ate while Isabella thought about food a lot. Ellie had long blonde hair braided down to the middle of her back. Her mother agreed to let her keep her hair long with only a trim twice a year to keep the ends nice, under one condition. Ellie was not supposed to fuss about getting her hair fixed each morning. No crying or whining that her mother was hurting her with the hairbrush as it worked its way through the snarls. It had been a small price to pay to be able to keep her long hair all her life. Now she brushed her own hair of course.
Isabella on the other hand had short black curls that framed her face. That is to say that today she had short curls. Her Aunt Susie was taking classes to become a hair stylist and whenever she learned something new she tried it out on her niece. Isabella's mother put her foot down and refused to let her sister, Susie color the 9th grader's hair. Isabella's mother had told her daughter several times, "Until you are out of high school there will be no hair dying."
But when it came to the important things in life Ellie and Isabella could have been twins. They both loved being outdoors, especially camping. They loved writing and reading. But most of all they loved to spend long summer days riding their bikes together. They hated doing dishes, folding laundry and history class.
This spring break was going to be extra special. Mr. Miller had received permission to have Isabella and Ellie spend the last night in the lighthouse. The girls were so excited, but very scared. What if they saw her?
INSPIRATION HITS!
I have been praying for inspiration for a new book. Nothing was coming to me. I just knew I needed to be patient about an answer. So this morning - IT HIT ME IN MY HEART! I melted when I saw this post on Facebook.
Inspiration from Lost in Michigan - photographer, Mike Sonnenberg. This morning he posted this picture on Facebook. I immediately contacted him to purchase it for my next eBook cover - I have been frantically searching for lighthouse information all morning.
Not sure which direction the book will take, but I am having fun. Did you know the Tawas Point Lighthouse is reported to be haunted by a little girl? OOOOhh - if there isn't a story there for this author I should quit writing!!!! Here is a recreation of what people reported seeing at the lighthouse.
I can't wait to start writing. Thank you Mike Sonnenberg!
Four Season Friends is Now Available
I am pleased to announce that Four Season Friends - my first novel - is available on Amazon.
Four Season Friends begins with moving day and all the
stress and anxiety of seven people relocating to a new home in a new city.
Each of them quickly becomes friends with the family of eight next door
and the fun begins. A few of the children are homeschooled while others attend St. Mary
Cathedral, just three blocks away. There are vacations, a first job away
from home and even a wedding reception in a Montana barn in the middle of
winter! You will come to love the Castors and the Maxums, possibly even
wishing you could live next door to them.
I know you will like this book as much as the Saginaw Series and the Holiday Series. Click the book.
I know you will like this book as much as the Saginaw Series and the Holiday Series. Click the book.
Address Label Tip for Military Mail
I thought I would share a tip. I use Avery 6461 address labels for my letters to my grandson. They are actually removable multipurpose labels. They stay on the envelopes AND he can peel the label off and use it for his return address. That saves him a lot of time that he could use for writing letters. If you have ever seen a military address you will know what a great tip this is!
I don't use one for my return address though because I'm not sure it would always stay on for the return trip. But after it leaves the base it doesn't really matter if his return address stays on or not (but it has always arrived with the label on.) We can't send him anything but he can recycle!
To Honor Robin J. Jacklin, Jr.
I am so proud of our grandson. A three day free giveaway of the first book of the Holiday Series. In honor of my grandson joining the United States Air Force, "No Christmas for Olivia" will be free June 21-23. I can only imagine how hot basic training will be in San Antonio so the summer solstice seemed to be a good day to begin the giveaway. The Holiday Series is about a military family so I thought it would be a great way to show my love and to let those who love him know how proud I am to have him serve.
The Wedding Barn!
After searching for a year, we found the wedding barn for Four Season Friends.
The setting in the book is Montana in the winter for Nancy and Jim's wedding.
However, we found the perfect barn for the wedding close to Brant, Michigan in the spring.
I will have to go there in the winter to take a picture with snow in it.
When I saw it yesterday, I knew immediately that this was the one.
Chapter 1 of Four Season Friends
I am right on target with the next book, Four Season Friends. This is not a series book, it is my first novel. Four Season Friends should be published on Amazon as an eBook by July. Now is the time to put it on your summer reading list. It is a book appropriate for all ages. This book follows two large families living on Hoyt Street in Saginaw, Michigan. Some of the children attend St. Mary Cathedral and some of them are homeschooled. The two moms, Sissy and Noreen, team up to teach some of their children at home.
The book starts out in Summer. It is moving day for the Maxum family and it is not going well. Everyone is overwhelmed and they all need a time out. A new friendship begins on this day that will last a lifetime.
I focus a lot on Larry, one of the older children in this book. He has some anger issues. How does he learn from his outbursts of anger? Can he learn to change his attitude?
The kids are encouraged to pull pranks by one set of parents. The other parents are divided in the wisdom of pranks that are supervised and where safety is the major issue. They all learn there are consequences to pulling pranks on each other.
There is fund raising for the East Side Soup Kitchen. How good can actually come out of a bad situation.
Of course there is wedding - I don't think I can write a book that doesn't have a love story in it!
There are vacations in Montana. My husband and I traveled to Montana this past year to gather information for this book. The people we met were kind and helpful and even allowed me to put them in the book. Some of the book is set in Traverse City, Michigan. One of our favorite vacation spots. One of the children wants to work there over the summer. But she needs to learn what it means to have good work ethics before permission is granted.
I hope you will love this book as much as I loved writing it. I am in the last phase of editing and have really enjoyed getting to know these characters. Watch for the announcement of publishing. I can't wait!
Chapter 1
The book starts out in Summer. It is moving day for the Maxum family and it is not going well. Everyone is overwhelmed and they all need a time out. A new friendship begins on this day that will last a lifetime.
I focus a lot on Larry, one of the older children in this book. He has some anger issues. How does he learn from his outbursts of anger? Can he learn to change his attitude?
The kids are encouraged to pull pranks by one set of parents. The other parents are divided in the wisdom of pranks that are supervised and where safety is the major issue. They all learn there are consequences to pulling pranks on each other.
There is fund raising for the East Side Soup Kitchen. How good can actually come out of a bad situation.
Of course there is wedding - I don't think I can write a book that doesn't have a love story in it!
There are vacations in Montana. My husband and I traveled to Montana this past year to gather information for this book. The people we met were kind and helpful and even allowed me to put them in the book. Some of the book is set in Traverse City, Michigan. One of our favorite vacation spots. One of the children wants to work there over the summer. But she needs to learn what it means to have good work ethics before permission is granted.
I hope you will love this book as much as I loved writing it. I am in the last phase of editing and have really enjoyed getting to know these characters. Watch for the announcement of publishing. I can't wait!
Chapter 1
Amanda
yelled down from the top railing of the gleaming oak staircase, "Mom,
where are the boxes from my bedroom?" Her mom was in the kitchen in the
back of the new house. With the
dishwasher running she couldn't hear her daughter.
Amanda
screamed louder, "Mom!" Still
no answer. She stomped angrily down the stairs, stopping at the landing to yell
again. This time with all the pent up anger she felt about moving, she shouted,
"Mother, where are my belongings?"
Without
waiting for an answer she turned on the landing and ran down the last set of
stairs to the entry hall. She randomly started opening boxes and as she
rummaged through them, the contents began spilling out onto the floor. Her mom
had heard the last yell and as she walked into the long entry hall to see what
was wrong. When she saw the mess Amanda
was making she gasped, "What are you doing, Amanda Jane? Don't start
pulling things out of boxes right here in the front hall."
Tempers
were short. Moving day was taking its toll. Mrs. Maxum stopped to regain her
composure. She stared out the front door
and started thinking about the move. When
their fifth child, Timmy, was born it was evident they would have to find a
larger home. The only other boy, the
oldest, Larry was sleeping in a room no bigger than a closet. The three girls, Amanda, Clare and Joanna
were crammed into the largest bedroom which had no place to put a crib. Timmy had been sleeping at the end of the
hallway.
Chaos Corner
When we went to Montana we visited Celeste at the X Hangin X Creative photography in the Chaos Corner. I asked her why they named it Chaos Corner and this is my favorite quote ever! Now she made this sign to hang on their door!
Chaos Corner is in the new book, Four Season Friends. Due out summer of 2014.
By the way, if you are visiting Absarokee, Montana, make sure you stop by the Chaos Corner!
Chaos Corner is in the new book, Four Season Friends. Due out summer of 2014.
By the way, if you are visiting Absarokee, Montana, make sure you stop by the Chaos Corner!
Snapping Fingers - Inspiration
On Facebook last night my daughter Caroline posted a sign that says, "Sometimes I open my mouth and my mother comes out!" My other daughter, Joanna, posted, "Hahaha...that started happeing YEARS ago for me. Then my sister, Jane, posted, "Oh the snapping fingers! I tried to stop myself, but alas they snapped!!
Which quickly turned into this in my next book, Four Season Friends:
Which quickly turned into this in my next book, Four Season Friends:
After
everyone was tucked in with kisses and books, Sissy called Noreen. She groaned as she exclaimed, “I am turning
into my MOTHER!” She explained, “When I
was growing up my mother made a lot of phone calls for school. Whenever a vote came to the public that would
help St. Mary’s in some way she, and her loyal group of friends, would begin a
calling campaign. Of course this was way
before the Internet, so phone calls and mailing campaigns were the only way to
go. When Mom was on the phone all night
long, there would be sometimes when I just had to ask something. Invariably, I would get the snapping fingers
with the disapproving look for interrupting her. Today, I snapped my fingers at Julie. I tried to stop myself, but alas they
snapped!" Noreen burst out laughing.
Years ago I found myself clicking my tongue at something Amanda did and
I slapped my own face! The two women
laughed until they had tears streaming down their faces and their husbands
asking what was so funny!
Inspriation. It comes from all over the place!
Festival of Books
Velyn Cooper of Festival of Books has featured my books on her website today!
It has been such a pleasure to have someone else market my books.
I have been so busy writing that marketing has just gone by the wayside.
Thank you so much, Velyn!
Click the link!
Editors
My editors are a gift from God.
After spending many hours writing and rewriting my books I tend to lose focus. The story makes sense to me because I know my characters inside out. I begin to worry whether a new reader will like my book.My cousin, Mary Lynn gets the first draft. When I give it to her I worry until I get it back. She checks grammar and punctuation. If something seems confusing she points out the problem. She hates compound sentences. Mary Lynn is the first person to get to know my characters. In the new book, Four Season Friends there are so many characters I was worried it would be confusing. But when the phone call came, when she finished reading it the first time through, she said she loved the characters in the book. I felt so relieved.
Holiday Series
The books in the Holiday Series are a year in the life of Kyla, Olivia, Maddie and Sophie and all their friends. Difficult issues are faced this year in all four books. In book one, No Christmas for Olivia, it is time to learn the true meaning of Christmas. In book two, Easter Trip to Florida, the students go on a mission trip where they learn humility and the importance of sharing God's love. In book three, Independence Day, Internet bullying hurts two students. In book four, A Very Thankful Thanksgiving, new zero tolerance rules have an unexpected consequence.
The Holiday Series is a new series written by Mary Ellen Shea Clifford. After the success of the Saginaw Series, with over 1,000 books downloaded, Mary Ellen writes about a new set of friends in Saginaw, Michigan. In the Holiday Series Olivia, Kyla, Sophie and Maddie are best friends. Come along and enjoy the drama, mystery, love and budding romances in the newest series.
Holiday Series tackles some pretty difficult subjects. My hopes are that Mothers and Daughters, Aunts and Nieces, Brothers and Sisters, and even Grandmothers and Granddaughters read these books together and then discuss them. Internet bullying, abortion, zero tolerance and its consequences, disrespectful and rude behavior as well as forgiveness, cancer, waiting for answers from God in God's time not ours, finding out the world does not revolve around us are some of the issues in the Holiday Series.
Click on books to go to Amazon
The books in the Saginaw Series follow the friends from the summer before Freshman year to the summer before Senior year. In Webber House meet Katy and Jen, best friends. In Bertie's Bakery Heaven Scent, it becomes a trio adding Colleen. In Andersen Pool add James and Adam. In Daniels Den follow the band "The Lifeguards" as they work their way to possible stardom. You will get to know the friends throughout their high school years as they blend the best of Saginaw old with Saginaw today.
OVER 1,000 SAGINAW SERIES BOOKS DOWNLOADED
NO KINDLE? - NO PROBLEM
Click on the picture below to download a FREE app from Amazon to read Kindles.
Dear Readers
Please go back to Amazon to review the books. Click the sign "Your Attention Please" above. It would mean so much to me because this really helps sell the books. People are more likely to purchase a book if it has lots of reviews. Additionally, some distribution services will not send out my books unless there are more reviews. I would greatly appreciate your help. Thank you so much.
Issues and Conflicts
Issues and Conflicts in the Books
Four Season Friends, The Saginaw Series and the Holiday Series are filled
with loving families faced with difficult situations.
with loving families faced with difficult situations.
There is a strong faith-filled community of adults to help the teens find answers
through prayer, faith, love and friendship.
through prayer, faith, love and friendship.
Holiday Series: Book One - No Christmas for Olivia - Chapter One
CHAPTER ONE
"Are you finished packing your suitcase, Liv?" Mom yelled up the stairs. "Almost," answered her daughter as she stared unhappily at the empty suitcase open on her bed. She was thinking about how she didn't want to go to Aunt Fran's for Christmas. Olivia didn't like their family traditions thrown to the side, as if they didn't matter. Each Christmas had always been filled with rich family traditions. Until this year!
Holiday Series: Book Two - Easter Break in Florida
Kyla walked up the staircase to
finish homework due on Monday. She needed to write a report about dissecting
the frog in Biology class yesterday. She paused when she saw the sunshine
streaming through the window on the landing between the first and second floors
of her family home in Saginaw, Michigan. She couldn't resist. She climbed into
the window seat making herself comfortable, plumping the pillows and pulling
the handmade quilt over her legs. Her mom made a yellow curtain to pull across
the front of the opening and when Kyla pulled it closed she was in a sunshine
cocoon.
Holiday Series: Book Three - Independence Day
Chapter One
Kyla's phone chimed. Even though she didn't know the sender, she looked at the new message, "New exciting blog about students at Saint Mary Cathedral High School! Click the link below!" She clicked the link.
Kyla's phone chimed. Even though she didn't know the sender, she looked at the new message, "New exciting blog about students at Saint Mary Cathedral High School! Click the link below!" She clicked the link.
"Oh no, Kyla!" screamed Liv,
as she ran up the stairs two at a time to their room. "KyKy, don't open
the link!" Liv's warning was too late. Kyla opened the bedroom door. She
had tears streaming down her cheeks. Liv ran to give her sister a hug. Sadly,
Liv whispered, "Where's Mom?" With tears in her eyes, Liv answered,
"Sewing."
Holiday Series: Book Four - A Very Thankful Thanksgiving
Chapter One
Mr. Dontay put his thumb and forefinger in his mouth and blew out a shrill ear bursting whistle. Then he yelled, "Okay everyone, settle down! Settle down." When it finally quieted down, he said, "Welcome back Children of God! This is the first gathering of the school year of the most fabulous teens in Saginaw, Michigan!" The hooting, hollering and clapping teens turned the room back into chaos. Miss Montalvo smiled as she watched Mr. Dontay join in the pandemonium. She could tell he loved it as much as they did.
Mr. Dontay put his thumb and forefinger in his mouth and blew out a shrill ear bursting whistle. Then he yelled, "Okay everyone, settle down! Settle down." When it finally quieted down, he said, "Welcome back Children of God! This is the first gathering of the school year of the most fabulous teens in Saginaw, Michigan!" The hooting, hollering and clapping teens turned the room back into chaos. Miss Montalvo smiled as she watched Mr. Dontay join in the pandemonium. She could tell he loved it as much as they did.
As she looked over the room full of
high school students she couldn't help but focus on one very small girl. She
was watching everything with wide-eyed wonder. She had dark circles under her
eyes, and very little hair peeking out of a close fitting crocheted hat. It
made her look fragile and actually quite ill.
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