The Real Me, Writing, Vacation, and Forgetting & Remembering 9/11

Facing The Real Me
I tried to keep politics out of my blog for now, along with religion, and military/war. However, I realize I cannot. I hope that you will still read this and will send comments about your thoughts on the subjects. We don't have to all agree. However, I will try to be as "Gentle" as I can about them. I never want to cram my beliefs down anyone's throat. That's not right.

I'm a Christ-Follower, I'm to the right as far as politics, and I'm a supporter of the GWOT (Global War on Terror). There. It's out there. You guessed most of it already, I'm sure. But, as far as my writing goes. I focus on Christ and the family. My books are focused on each. Sometimes Christ is to the forefront. Sometimes, He's the theme that runs behind the words on the page.

I wasn't sure how to put this, so I decided to be straightforward about it. I hope you understand.

I will keep the "in your face" or "bold" Christian comments, though, to my sacred blog.

Writing and Vacation
My writing was non-existant last week since my mom came in for a visit. So, I hope to get it on track today and tomorrow--only to go back to Denver Wednesday the 16th of September through Monday the 21st. Bear with my blog posts. It's the same thing there. I will hopefully get serious about my writing and blog posts again on 9/21.

So, again, I'll be gone 9/16 to 9/21.

Forgetting 9/11

It seems our nation has forgotten 9/11. And is in ACTIVE, INTENTIONAL denial that this is the case.

Proof? Drive around. How many cars have the American flag on them? How about houses?

How many of us think of or pray for the families and friends of those who were murdered that day in an act that declared war on the USA?

How many of us pray for the soldiers at war daily?

How many of us grab hold of the banner, "Peace" or "Co-Exist?"

UBL (Usama bin Laden) just released another tape. On it, he reminds us why he has problems with the USA. he states our support for the country of Israel is what incites his violence on us.

How have we forgotten? There's Charlie Sheen. Groups that say the USA government caused 9/11. And so on. We have forgotten. As a nation. Some individuals have. As a nation we have.

If people remembered 9/11, Three and a Half Men would not be on the air--and would not be as popular as it is.

The Freedom Tower would have been built well before now if people would have taken a stand and called and written everyone responsible for getting it built. Just another example. Since it hasn't been, it shows how we've forgotten.

We assume that we no longer at war--even though UBL just reminded us today this is not the case. We also assume that we should not be at war. again, UBL just reminded us today that this is not the case in the new video.

Our soldiers would get a lot more support than they do now and people would stop listening to the news because of all the lies the news feed us about the real state of the war and about the extremist Islamists out there.

Our goverment would NOT be what it is today if people remembered 9/11.

I'm sorry to stir things up, but to ignore the problem in order not to stir things up only adds to the problem.

Remembering 9/11
9/11 was a day that still holds great importance and always will--much like 12/7/1941--Pearl Harbor. Our country was changed dramatically because of both events. People died on those days and becuase of those days afterward. Both were followed by war. We could not allow any American to die in vain when war was delcared on our country. May God be with all the victims' families and friends. You are remembered in my house daily and pray for you.

Misc. 9/11 Thoughts
What have you actively done today to remember 9/11 and the soldiers who have fought because of it since? (Wow. That hits home.)


Let's pray for our nation. Let's pray that we remember that people on 9/11 died and people have died since in the wars because of 9/11. It was all because of three aspects:
1. We're not a Muslim nation (in the extremist's eyes).
2. We support Israel (a democratic nation).
3. Radical muslims think that Allah cannot return until all infidels are dead. (The radicals define infidel as anyone who does not believe in their radical views--and this includes many moderate Muslims.)

Have any of these changed? No. We could be hit again by these radical terrorists. We've let out guard down.

Freedom
Freedom does not come free. It does not jsut happen by accident. Rather, it costs. Men and women fight wars to defend our freedom. We would not be the same today of not for those who have made the great sacrifice. You are not forgotten. Thank you.

By Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy & Publishing by Stacy

Updates About Editing and Writing Projects of Stacy Duplease and Stories by Stacy

Vacation/Time Off First of all, I'm going to be gone the week of 07 September-13 September 2009. I'll be back on Monday 14 September 2009. My mom's coming to visit and we're going to play and see the sights of Omaha, Nebraska.

Blogging
It looks like I'm a madwoman thinking I can do 8 blogs. Time is a very precious commodity and I enjoy spending time with my husband and getting writing done. (Call me silly.) We shall see. For now, my main blogs are:

http://www.storiesbystacy.blogspot.com/
http://www.sacredstoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/

The sacred one is my Christian-based blog.

I'll blog about the other stuff: journaling, writing, mom stuff, marriage stuff, patriotic stuff, and spec lit stuff in both of the above. When I can, I'll add to the other blogs, but I need to be realistic. I don't want to kill myself or you.

Updates About Editing Projects
I am still editing "Cammi's Story" and "Demarcations" and will put them both on this blog when I am able to again. Then, once I am done editing, I'll publish them. My guess is two more months.

Updates About Writing Projects
Forget all the other stuff I've said I was working on the past. They all got moved to the backburner for now. I need my ideas to stew and simmer sometimes. (Okay, a lot of times.) These are my present projects:

"An Easy Faith: A 50-Day Study Guide" from the series: Putting God in the Every Day Series. It's a Bible study. Hence, is non-fiction.

My fiction project is: "The Best of Darci Thompson: Saying I Do to the Best Man." It's about a woman who gives up on men and decides to marry God and she blogs about it. I tell her tale.

Website
Also, don't forget to check out my new website at:

http://www.storiesbystacy.com/

By Stacy Duplease
of Stories by Stacy & Publishing by Stacy

The Sin of Busyness, Priorities, The Muse, and Other Ramblings (Etc. Etc. Etc.) by Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy and Publishing by Stacy

The Sin of Busyness
Did you know that often times, a busy schedule means that you are afraid to face something in life? Other times, a busy schedule means you're running from something. It also can mean just one thing: You're just busy.
Why is it we are so busy?
Why is it we think our lives have to be full to the max, or we're failing at life?
Why is it we think that busyness gives us self-value and worth? If this was really true, we're pretty shallow people.
Busyness is a tool to avoid something. Are we avoiding truth? From dealing with the past? From dealing with the now? From transforming our lives and our character? From change?
We don't have to be so busy. We do not have to choose to be busy.
What's wrong with enjoying a simple life of the things that really matter?
What's wrong with not having too much stress in our lives?
Just a few questions to ponder.

Priorities
How is it our priorities have become so skewed? Why are our priorities things that should not be priorities and why are the things that should be a priority not one?
Are our priorities on the things that matter or that have great value to us?
Are our priorities long-term and eternally-minded?
Or, are they now-centered and have no lasting value?
When was the last time you examined your priorities?

The Muse and Writing
I find it interesting when and how the Muse strikes. I find it's rarely in the way I expect and it's rarely when I would think.
Right now, I'm being called by the Muse (My God) to write a fiction book and a non-fiction book. My fiction book is an epic love story with a builder of the St. Louis Arch (made-up character/builder) and his woman. My non-fiction book is on Ezekiel 16 and Unfaithfulness to God.

Etc. Etc. Etc.:
Other Ramblings:
I'm sorry I've been a stranger. I think I'm back for two weeks now. Then, I'll be gone a week, back for two, gone again. Married life in Omaha, and away from home, means a busy life. In September, my Mom's visiting and then I'm going back home for the Bronco's opening game. Being in Omaha makes me miss the Rockies and Broncos. Terribly.

How are you?

Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy and Publishing by Stacy

Greetings from Stories by Stacy

Hello! It's been a while. Sorry to not be here yesterday and add a posting to this blog. However, I'm here now.

I am mostly settled in my new home in Omaha. It's been fun (not sarcastically speaking, but I'm serious) setting up a new home and combining two households in one. This is the first time my husband and I've been under the same roof. Therefore, it's quite nice. I not only love my husband, but I like him. So, it's been a while in coming but here we are.

Omaha is a great deal better than I anticipated and I had positive thoughts about the place beforehand. It's pretty, green, and hilly. I love the people, the community in which I live, and so on. It's a slower pace than Denver and I definitely love that facet. It's also nice to be near more Christians and patriots. Everyone is friendly and when you let a driver over in front of you, they actually wave and say thank you.

It took us a month to get some of our furniture (and we're still waiting on the last round to come in on Friday). But, the wait was worthwhile. The house is a sacred place and quite peaceful. It's a retreat and that matters more to me than anything else.

We got a kitten named Sinan (pronouced See-naw-n) on Sunday and have been enjoying him very much. He's a huge ham. He has no fear. He's vocal, follows us around, and comes when called. He's a lover and purrs loudly. It looks like I've got a good helper.

I really have not had time to miss Denver yet and I think that's a good thing.

My dad is coming out to visit next week, so I'll be a little out of the loop again. Sorry about that.

It looks like I have four books I'm working on at the moment, as far as writing goes:
1. A book on 1 Corinthians. It's a bible study, devotional, reference, journaling type of book. It's meant to be done individually or in a group. Non-fiction.
2. A book on journaling. I actually call it journalblogging. It's a combination of journaling and blogging where you get thoughts out on paper or in a blog. It forces us to realize that we miss most of life every day because of busyness. We need to slow down and try to process what we experience, think, feel, be intentional about living, plan and seek our goals every day or we miss life. We forget what's important. Non-fiction. It can be done individually or in a group.
3. Zeagar. Fiction. Sci-fi.
4. A book about if walls could talk. It's set in the future and is going to be an epic love story about a construction worker who helped built the arch in St. Louis. The construction worker is purely fiction, but I want to do a series about 'Building America,' and how everyone has a story and these stories build America as well as the hands that build the landmarks. Fiction.

Also, I need to edit and get ready for publication:
1. Cammi's Story
2. Demarcations

How are you? What's new with you? Let me know.

Stacy Duplease of Stories by Stacy and Publishing by Stacy

Blog Queen (Or Blog Nut, depending on how you look at it.)

I am now finished adding blogs. I hope not to add any more because this is more than a full-time job keeping up with each of these. I want to touch on the topics most important to me, though, and help people to see life from a fresh perspective--and let people know they aren't the only one who... (You fill in the blank.)

Please check out whatever blog tickles your fancy.

My main blog is and will always be:

www.storiesbystacy.blogspot.com/

My daily blogs are:
www.storiesbystacy.blogspot.com/
www.speclitstoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Friday Blogs:
www.sacredstoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/
www.writingstoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/

Mondays and Wednesdays Blog:
www.momstoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/

Tuesdays and Thursdays Blogs:
www.journalstoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/
www.marriagestoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/
www.usastoriesbystacy.blogspot.com/

From the Crazy Writer and Blogger,
Stacy Duplease

The Economy, Self-Publishing, Stories by Stacy, and Publishing by Stacy

More Information Learned from the CCWC:
The Economy and Writing

It's not just the Christian Book Association (CBA) who's having problems within this economy. The American Book Association (ABA) is having problems as well. The truth of the matter is that both the CBA and ABA are not producing as many books. Nor are they as willing to try to publish a first-time author. It's too risky. Furthermore, they are now more picky as to what type of books they will accept.

Problem with Publishing Through ABA or CBA
It's a dog-eat-dog world out there and the publishing market is no exception. However, it can be argued that it's always been that way. It's just worse at the moment. The problem is not with the editors. They want to publish a great deal more books than they are able. The problem lies with the industry as a whole.

The industry as a whole only can accept what they believe will sell.

The question is what really sells? The answer, I believe is more complicated than anyone tends to address.

The bottom line is: I believe more books would sell if given the chance.

Ahh... But, that is where the problem rears its ugly head. If you're a big publishing house, or a small one for that matter, if you try to print a book that does not measure up to your standards and it fails to sell thousands of copies, and immediately, then you lose money and eventually you would have to close down your company. This is a fact. As a supporter of capitalism, I understand this and welcome this fact.

Therefore, there has to be a way to get more people published and not lose money. The answer to this dilemma is self-publishing or going with a company that can afford to take a chance on you. I want to set up a self-publishing company and a company to publish those who don't want to do it on their own and need guidance. I also can help people to self-publish.

In self-publishing, you can make a lot more money than if you ever went with a major publisher. You don't have to share your profits with anyone. Ever. Unless you chose to share some with your graphics designer, or anyone else like that.

It's a win-win situation because in the major publishing industry as an author, you have to market your books anyway. The publishing houses don't do that for you.

Stories by Stacy (SBS)
I'm forming a LLC, a Limited Liability Company to get all of my books published. I'm in the process of the next two months of getting it set up officially.

Publishing by Stacy (PBS)
It's another LLC and is to help others get published through this company or through their own means and I walk them through the process.

My Current Writing Plans:
Stories by Stacy (SBS) is working on editing two novels at the moment in order to get them out in the next couple of months. "Demarcations" will be the first one I publish. "Cammi's Story" will be next.

I'm in the process of writing two novels:
* "Driftwood People"
* "Zeagar"

Driftwood People is about a family in crisis learning how to get serious about their faith, their country, and strengthening their family again.

Zeagar is a sci-fi about Americans getting tired of the country being ruined and they try to find a new place to live in outer space in the galaxy of Zeagar.

Business Plans:
Also, in the process of working on logos for each company, business cards, and so on.

Also, working on the cover for "Demarcations" and "Cammi's Story."

That's the latest. Thanks for listening to me ramble.

I'll get back to blogging about other matters tomorrow. I just wanted to let you know the state of affairs in my life since the CCWC. Thanks for listening.

Have a great day.

Blessings,
Stacy Duplease

I'm Back

Greetings, everyone. I'm back and it feels like ages since I did my last blog. How are you? I hope you are well. Let me know.

I'm refreshed and energized after a road trip from Denver to Omaha to see my new home and then from Omaha to Rapid City, South Dakota to see Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Bear Country USA, the Badlands, and the Black Hills. Then, went back home to Denver.

2,300 miles later, I feel better than I have in years. I have a fresh perspective and a new outlook on life in general, never mind professionally speaking. I'm less stressed, am relaxed, and am ready to do what needs to be done. (More on that in a moment.)

I feel more pinpointed in my mind and less all over the place. In other words, I'm focused on what matters and are not focused on the superfluous clutter we tend to add to our hearts, minds, and lives. I'm ready to start over and have a new beginning.

Today is my new beginning in several ways:

1) I'm moving to Omaha at the beginning of next month and am in the trasition between the only home I've ever known to moving to a new place where I don't know anyone. It is scary, difficult, exciting, and motivational for me all at once. It will be an adjustment, but I know it will be worth it. So, this is a new beginning as I work on making it what I want it to be. I control my reactions to the new situation and I choose it to be a blessing.

2) I'm excited to get back writing. I'm seeing it as something very different than I did even two weeks ago. (More to follow.)

3) My blogs will look very different now and I'm adding a few more to my collection. I'm adding: a patriotic blog, a sacred blog, a marriage blog, a writing blog, and a journalkeeping blog.

4) I'm going to setup my own webpage.

5) I'm starting two new companies... (More on that in a moment.)

6) I am excited to be back to writing again, blogging again, and journaling again. I have a fresh perspective and know what I want to do now. I only thought I did before.

7) Can't wait to apply all of the new insights I learned at the Colorado Christian Writing Conference (CCWC).

~Stacy Duplease

Writing Conference or Bust

Reminder of Vacations:
I'm going to be out of touch from Wednesday, May 13 to Tuesday, June 2nd and will start to check email and get back into the swing of things on June 3rd. I'm going to the Colorado Christian Writing Conference (CCWC) in Estes Park and then going on a road trip with my husband.

Lists:
Normally, I'm not a list girl. I might send myself email reminders, but I'm not a list girl. There are exceptions, however, to that rule. This is one of them. I am so excited about my two vacations that I don't want to forget anything. Therefore, I'm making lists and checking them not twice, but more like five or six times. (Just added to the list three times while I wrote this paragraph.)

Writing:
I'm excited to be through this conference's preparation time. Thank God for that. It means I can focus less time on editing and more time on writing. I prefer the balanced approach of doing a little of both every day. But, a little more writing. Therefore, hang on tight when I get back. I'll be adding a lot more blogs about my latest projects and so on.

Thank You:
I just wanted to thank you for reading my blogs. Bless you. It means a great deal. I promise to be more focused on writing and life rather than on editing from here on out. No, that isn't true. The next conference is in September. So, September will bring more editing again, but from now until then, stay tuned for the crazy stories of Stacy moving from home state to another city in another state and leaving family, starting our family, and meeting new people.

If I can guarantee one thing about the upcoming blogs, they will make you laugh and shake your head (and maybe roll your eyes). I'm a hoot. I tend to do something or say something that is so, well, Stacy, that you'll see I'm one of a kind.

See. Just in this blog, you're seeing the less frazzled Stacy and are seeing the more laid back one who can freely laugh at herself because I often get myself into situations where there's nothing let to do but laugh.

Genesis' Lack of Patience:
I will keep doing blogs for you to read the story of Genesis every day. It's a book about marriage. Here's my hook for this book:

Hook: Does every marriage have what it takes to go the distance? Aubrey says, "Yes!" The question is: "Do you?"

In our age of divorce at the drop of a hat, I tackle the issue of how to fight for your marriage even in the middle of infidelity, video game addiction, and suicide. It's a rather heavy book, but it inspires you to cherish your marriage and become best friends with your spouse.

Take care.

Stacy Duplease

Books I'm Writing and Editing

I decided to provide you with another list of my works.

The books I've written, will present at the writing conference next week, and am editing are:
* Cammi's Story (see Spec Lit blog)
* Genesis' Lack of Patience
* Demarcations
* The Murder of Owen Knight
* Tanpres (pending new title) (see Spec Lit blog)

The books I'm currently writing are:
* January's Lasting Legacy (see Mom blog)
* Moments of Sacred Longing
* Zeagar (see Spec Lit blog)
* Whatever is True

The books I will work on soon:
* Ramey's Story (Book 2 after Cammi)
* Book 2 of Genesis
* Book 2 of Murder of Owen
* Book 2 of Tanpres
* Book 2 of Demarcations

Whew!

Starting in June, I will share all of them with you in my blogs--from page one to end of book over a year or so...

An Updated Schedule and Etc. Etc. Etc.

Happy Tuesday. I hope you're well.

Today, I seem to be scattered and realize I bit off more than I could chew when I promised a synopsis of each of my books for today. I will have that this week (I hope). I'm just not sure when. Also, I want to give several different types of a sentence, a paragraph, and one-page summaries. It will help you get acquainted with my novels, but will also allow me the opportunity to practice giving a pitch to a publisher for the CCWC (Colo. Christian Writers Conference in Estes Park).

I'm going to try to put this out every day in the morning or around noon at the latest. So, please bear with me while I try to get adjusted to my new schedule. I need to edit, read a novel, read some on how to write, write, exercise, do some housecleaning, pack a box or two, snuggle with my beagle, and have time with my husband every day so I'm trying to figure out how to make it work. I'm a morning person and get my best writing and editing done in the morning. Therefore, I promise the blog will be sent out by noon. I will try to send another in the afternoon as a bonus from time to time.

My schedule has already been modified because I'm currently kicking around two new novels in my head as I edit my book, Genesis' Lack of Patience. Also January's Lasting Legacy is about motherhood, so I'm going to combine my thoughts on planning to have a baby with that day's blog.

Here's my shortened and latest version of my blog schedule:

Sunday: Dreaming and Writing Blog Monday: Zeagar???? (Title in progress. Sci-Fi.)Tuesday: Cammi's Story Wednesday: Genesis' Lack of Patience. Thursday: The Murder of Owen KnightFriday: January's Lasting Legacy (Still writing. Started over again on 4/27. Combining thoughts on being a mom-to-be with this blog.)Saturday: Demarcations

*** I'll keep adding to the next three sections over the next couple of weeks:

One-Sentence Summaries:

Zeagar
Five teens are asked by the U.S. government to explore other planets within the Zeagar Galaxy and to write up reports/blogs about their experiences.

Cammi's Story
Cammi and Ramey find themselves in a strange fantastical world called Lethana while they're asked to recover the Lost Volumes.

Genesis Lack of Patience
Aubrey writes a series about marriage and how to fight every day to keep and treasure your spouse even through the impossibly difficult life-circumstances thrown your way.

The Murder of Owen Knight
A writers group finds themselves in a situation where they're being hunted and one of them is murdered.

January's Lasting Legacy
A book about four moms and three dads planning for a baby.

Demarcations
Sara moves to live with her grandmother and start over in a small town and opens a cafe and bookstore where she meets several new friends.


Paragraph Summaries:

Zeagar
Cammi's Story
Genesis Lack of Patience
The Murder of Owen Knight
January's Lasting Legacy
Demarcations

One-Page Summaries:

Zeagar
Cammi's Story
Genesis Lack of Patience
The Murder of Owen Knight
January's Lasting Legacy
Demarcations

January's Lasting Legacy:

I have a confession to make to you about my writing style. I have a bad habit of getting a quarter into the way of a book and starting over when I get stuck or when it doesn't come out the way I imagined. January's Lasting Legacy has had even more do-over's than normal for me. I'll let you know once I know more about it myself. I just started over again last night. I do know this about the plot, however: Four moms-to-be form a social group to support one another through pregnancy. It tells of their experiences, outlooks, and plans. The three men involved with the women will also form their own group. So, it's not just for women readers. It's for the whole family.

Etc. Etc. Etc.:

*** This section will be for the miscellaneous items where I don't want to devote a whole blog to, but still deem important. I realize the name is redundant, three times over, but there is a reason for it. Etc. Etc. Etc. was the one of the first books I ever wrote. It was when I was ten years old. My dad owned a print shop at the time and had an old Itek Typesetter, for those of you who know what that was. For those who don't, it was the precursor for print shops of the personal computer. It was a big clunky thing in which you actually had to program it for every page and give it commands of what you wanted to do. At any rate, that's what I used for this book. I still have it somewhere. In the process of moving, I'll try to find it and will share some of it with you.

*** Book I just finished reading last night:
Cold Ridge by Carla Neggers

*** Book I started reading last night:
Maximum Ride: Book 1: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson. It's a fantasy and written for children, but young adults and adults love it. I'll tell you more about it later.

*** Check out the Amazon Kindle 2, a computerized book and library. I'll write more on this later. I love it and never thought I could make the switch from paper books to computerized. Wouldn't have it any other way now. It saves on shelf space and I am a nut about collecting books.

My Schedule for 2009:

*** May 13th-16th, Colorado Christian Writer's Conference
*** On vacation May 17th-June 2nd
*** Packing to move from June 3rd to July 1st
*** Moving from Colorado to Nebraska the first week of July.

Blessings to You,

Stacy D.

*******
You can also find me on twitter at: Storiesbystacy and email me at: Storiesbystacy@gmail.com

While each blog will be a stand-alone, if you're new to this blog, you may want to go back and read the previous posts in order to get the most out of the blog.

Blog Vol. 3