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

Blog Number One

Today is the first day of my blog. I hope I don't bore you. I've never done this before and am a little apprehensive. So, bear with me, please.

My goals with this blog are:
1. To share stories with you. I will talk about all of the books I'm in the process of trying to get published, am writing, or are in the process of editing. I write several different aspects of the drama genre. I write thrillers, murder mysteries, speculative fiction, and romance. There's always a romantic theme, a lesson learned, and I show how life is real and raw.
2. To help you escape for a while.
3. To help you look at life from a different perspective.
4. To help you learn how to leave a lasting legacy or create a way to preserve your memories.
5. To develop a stronger interior life.
6. To share my process of making my dream of becoming a published author come true.
7. To talk about writing.
8. To share how I am in the process of moving to a different state with my husband and hope to start our family soon and how that impacts life.
9. To show how life is difficult, but it's what we put into it, the lessons learned, guard our hearts and minds, and how we hold fast to our faith that makes the difference.

What lofty goals I have and wish I could make it simpler. However, in order for me to be realistic about life, faith, relationships, and dreaming, I am forced to recognize that I cannot put it in a pretty box with a pretty bow. Life is complicated. However, we can find a simplicity in it and I want to share how I've learned, and am learning, how to do so.

A wise man in my life taught me a long time ago to focus on making my every today and tomorrow better than my every yesterday. Even though life sends me curve balls, I can look beyond them and life a life focused on leaving a meaningful lasting legacy to future generations of how to live life fully and simply through the sharing of stories and the lessons learned. I would love to hear how you've learned to do the same.

I want this blog to be interactive. Write me. I will choose what gets put on my blog and ask for no profanity, but beyond that, I welcome differing perspectives as well. Life is hard enough without learning from one another and helping each other through things.

I also welcome critique on my stories. I will share my writing with you. Again, I have the choice as to what to apply and what to ignore, but I welcome it.

How do you plan to live a meaningful life and leave a lasting legacy? What's your story?

Blessings to You,

Stacy D.