Servanthood. Holiness. Prayerfulness.

At the top of my day-timer, across each page, I have written these three things:

SERVANTHOOD. HOLINESS. PRAYERFULNESS.

They remind me that, no matter what my day looks like, no matter what my duties and responsibilities are that day, these are my three priorities. These are the areas I am seeking to grow in, as I pursue my walk with God.

Specifically, as a woman with a family, my servanthood first happens here at home. As I finish up the Study Guide to A Woman After God's Own Heart, I am reminded that my family, and my husband first among them, are to be the recipients of my servanthood above all others. These are the ones God has given me, the ones of my own household. These precious souls are only on loan to me for a limited time, so I want to make the most of the days, and use my energy and efforts first in service to them--which is also service to the Lord.

"She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness."

Isn't it wonderful that our God doesn't demand that we neglect our family in order to serve Him? On the contrary, he tells us that to give ourselves in service IS the way to serve him! (It's like getting two for the price of one; two benefits for one effort. We make our house a refuge, a sanctuary, we pray for the ones closest to us, and as we bless their lives, we are in turn blessed by our Creator.)

Not surprisingly, I find the more I "look well" to the ways of my household, the more I enjoy doing so. The more organized I am, the more planning I do for meals and groceries, and the more I participate in the lives of those in my care, the greater the rewards.

Do you have a method for keeping your highest priorities before you? (What's the top of your day-timer look like?) What are your spiritual goals concerning your family, right now?    
  

Book Winner & Goals

Contest Update:

 Caroline is the winner of,  Help Your Twenty-Something Get A Life! Congratulations, Caroline.
Thanks to everyone else who participated in the drawing by leaving a comment. I wish I had a book for each of you!

 GOALS UPDATE

How are you doing with your 2013 goals as January draws to a close?

We've discussed goal-setting this year, so let's keep up the conversation.
I started the month with a whopping 34 goals, but keep in mind that they spanned five areas of my life: Personal, Home, Family, Career and Finance. For the rest of the year, my monthly list is rarely as long as January's, and that's because I'm seldom as revved up and enthusiastic as a bright new year gets me feeling.

Anyway, a quick assessment of this month's goals reveals that I've crossed off less than half the things I set out to accomplish this month. HOWEVER--that still means I've done a lot. And if I take into the account the things I got done that never made it to the list, I'm not unsatisfied.

Periodic Reviews:
When you review your goals, don't hesitate to cross off items that no longer matter to you. We are changeable, life happens, and sometimes what feels important while you're making out your list becomes less so over time. Be flexible and go with the flow. Just be sure that you're not discarding anything that moves your towards your TOP TEN GOALS for the year.

Revisions
In the same way, each new month is a chance to revise goals, or plan for new ones. 
Sometimes I carry over items from the previous month; I also incorporate a few from my master list; and I add any that have arisen. Your list is your list, it's not written in stone. If it's not working for you, change it. 

Focus
A blog I sometimes read offered a really good post on the topic of setting and reaching goals, and underscored the importance of focusing on the ones that matter most. (For me, it's the "Top Ten".)
The focus there is on eating right, but the principles apply to reaching goals for any area of life. Check it out
HERE. 

So, how did you do? 
Did you make a monthly plan for this past month, and if so, how did it work out? I'd love to hear about it!

Warmest Blessings,

Linore
 
 


    

The Success Secret

We've been talking about setting and reaching goals here at Woman of Faith, so today I wanted to share some principles that work for all walks of life, even though I wrote them specifically for writers. As a workshop leader with Greater Harvest Workshops here in the Cincinnati, Ohio area, I know from experience that discouragement is a big snafu for writers.  (I've adapted the article slightly for you who are readers but not writers.)

The Success "Secret"

Sometimes newer writers feel like success (in the form of publication) is out of their reach, no matter what they do. Successful authors, they think, must know a secret or two they are simply unaware of. Why else aren't they published by now? (Perhaps there's an area of your life that feels unattainable even though you see other people reaching that goal, benchmark, or weight level. It seems that other people can get there, but not you, no matter how hard you try.)

If you feel like that, beware. 

While success sometimes is a matter of being in the right place at the right time or a result of who you know, more often it is a result of things completely within your grasp: Perseverance and hard work.

Perseverance can get you in the right place at the right time, and hard work will help you meet the people you need to know, or gain the skills necessary to reach your goal.

Colin Powell said, "There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure."

Before you start to feel that life is unfair or that all of your time spent writing and editing your work (or dieting, or studying, or whatever) is fruitless, ask yourself if you have prepared sufficiently, done the work that is necessary, and learned from your failures. 

If you aren't published in book length fiction and that is your goal, then it stands to reason that your work is not done. (Even when you get published, your work is not done.) Before snagging that first contract, however, it is doubly important that you prepare--and keep preparing.  Work hard--and keep working hard.

Many people fail simply because they stop trying. 

 "Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance."

Samuel Johnson

Learn from your failures, which, for writers, is a rejection letter or a critique. (Some criticism will not be accurate, but learning to find the grain of truth in it can be very, very helpful. Even your enemies can help you in this area--they are the first ones to spot your weaknesses, so their criticism will often contain a grain of truth that you've been blind to.)

Only the Lord knows the right time, the right publisher or the right agent for you. And every time you get a rejection, you can accept that it was not the right place, time, or publisher for you or your work. The key is to find the right one, or for your agent to do so. This takes time and patience.

It may be hard to keep believing that success will happen because it hasn't happened, yet. It's difficult to persevere in the face of rejection. But this is precisely what you must do. This is the time to lean on your God and remember that HE is the one who has called you to do this thing called writing (or whatever thing he has called you to do. Whether it is writing a book or being a homemaker and mother and wife, do it as to the Lord!) Your (publishing) success will come in His time and in His way.

In the meantime, remember that you write not because you may get published,
not to impress an agent or editor,
not to show your family or friends that you can,
but to serve the LORD; to steward the resources of creativity and imagination that He has entrusted to your care.  When you remember that it is GOD you serve, the outcome of your efforts is His concern, not merely yours. Serving God means that you are always a success so long as you are faithful. And that goes for everyone, no matter their walk of life.

His yoke is easy and His burden is light!

Commit your way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.  Psalms 37:5

What is your comfort when you've received a rejection or setback? Do you have a favorite verse you fall back on? Please share it with us. As always, any comment will enter you in the current book giveaway.
 

How To Surpass Yourself This Year!

We've been discussing how to set and reach goals, and I should mention that once you learn to implement a system to track your goals, you'll end up surpassing yourself in how much you can achieve in any given month or year.

That's the beauty of doing this: There are many things we can't change in life, but how much we get done when we purpose to do it, is something we can manage. You'd be surprised what you can achieve when you set your mind to achieving it. 

I hope by now you've written out your list of 100 goals, more or less.
Have you chosen your top ten?
Made sure they're measurable, and achievable?

The next step is to fashion a daily To-Do list that moves you, little by little, towards reaching those top ten goals. Since you're using your Master List to write out a monthly one, the next step is to plan out a way to work towards your goal in smaller, manageable steps, day-by-day.

For instance, if I get overwhelmed by the idea of needing to make major changes in a book, I might start my goal list this way:

Review and edit Chapter One. Only Chapter One.

(I am the sort who takes comfort in being limited. ha!) Without the pressure of having to edit the whole darn thing, I find that editing Chapter One is quite manageable. In fact, I might enjoy it so much that I'll shirk my own advice and go on to Chapter Two. But the thing is, I was able to motivate myself by removing the pressure. Forget about the GIGANTIC goal you want to reach and start out by taking teensy, baby steps towards it. 

What's true for me in writing is true in many, many areas of life. How's that old Chinese proverb put it? "The journey of a thousand steps begins with just one."

Take your first step towards that monster goal! If you care to share what your monster goal is this year, please do so. All commenters are entered into the current book giveaway of:

Help Your Twenty-Something Get A Life...And Get It Now, by Ross Campbell, M.D., Kregel Publishing
with a foreword by Gary Chapman, Ph.D.*

Kindle Bargain! Still on Sale!

Before the Season Ends (A Regency Inspirational Romance) is available on Kindle right now for only $2.51!  Great snuggle-up reading (or so they tell me) for a song. :) I have no idea how long my publisher will keep it at this price--I only discovered quite by accident that it was marked down.

 

Please, will you help me spread the word? Thanks so much!

Linore 

*Giveaway details are in the original post: http://todayswomanoffaith.blogspot.com/3013/05/goals.html

Setting Manageable Goals

I've reached far more goals in my life since I started using a system to track them. The key, however, is  that I've discovered goal-setting, and in particular, goal-REACHING is fun. That's right: it may take work and discipline to reach a goal, but there's so much satisfaction in getting there, that it's all worth it.

I'm going to share my system with you, and it's one I've gleaned from countless books on time-management and goal fulfillment. As an author who is also a homeschooling mother of five, I've HAD to study time-management to make my life work. But you are likely just as busy as I am, if in other ways. So this will help you or anyone who needs to get purposeful with their life and know that they're getting somewhere on the treadmill of time.

 I've discovered goal-setting, and in particular, goal-REACHING is fun.

What To Do:

One: Write a Master List of at least 100 goals for the year.

That may sound like a lot, but the idea here is to dream big, think big, and focus on what you really want to achieve.  I include five areas of my life when I write my master list, so if you put about 20 items beneath each of the five headings, you'll easily reach 100 goals. Once you get the hang of this, you'll probably have more than 100 goals each year and wonder how you ever lived without writing down these things.

Two: If you haven't already, separate your goals into five main headings, such as: 

• Personal (losing weight; getting up earlier; speaking more kindly to your mate, etc.) 
• Family (turn off the tv at 9PM; have a reading night; eat breakfast together before church, etc.)
• House and Home (Fix the wallpaper in the dining room; paint the hallway; etc.)
• Career (finish that regency romance in my files; flesh out the two I already started, etc.)
• Finance (open a Roth IRA; save a 6-month emergency fund; pay off student loan, etc.)

You may want to put a sub-heading in your PERSONAL section for "SPIRITUAL", but I simply include my spiritual goals within the personal heading. (For ex., Read through the Bible; study servanthood; spend five extra minutes a day in prayer, etc.)

Three: After you've sorted your goals into their proper spheres, now is the time to go over them again and prioritize. Choose first your top ten goals.

•  If I had to choose only ten things to accomplish this year, would this be one of them? 
•  Is this a non-negotiable item? Something I simply MUST do, have, achieve, etc.?

Once you get your top ten goals, put them into their own separate list.

Finally, using your Master List as a guide, and your top ten goals, create a MONTHLY goal sheet.
You can do this one month at a time. I love to take out my master list at the end of each month and see how I'm doing on the grand scheme of things.

My January list has 34 items, all from my Master List. Some of them are aimed at helping me towards one of the top ten. Not all goals are one-time things you can scratch off a list. Something like "eat more healthy meals," has to be on-going, for example. But I can still give it a check if I've made progress in that area.

Don't Forget

No amount of setting goals will help if you write your list and then forget about it. Review your list often. I check my monthly list about once a week.

Be Sure Your Goals are Measurable

Again, if I write something vague like, "Eat more healthy meals," how will I know when I've reached my goal? Do I need to eat three more healthy meals a month, or one healthier meal a day? So be specific. Write something like, "Order out no more than twice a month." That is something you can measure, and know when you've achieved it.

What about you? Did you set goals this year? Have you found a goal-setting plan that works for you?
Leave a comment and you'll be entered in: 

THE CURRENT BOOK GIVEAWAY! Help Your Twenty-Something Get a Life

  (US ONLY. For details, please see my last post. Scroll to the bottom.)Winner will be picked after midnight, January 20th.

More about goal-setting in my next post!

PS: The Sale is still on!

At the time of writing this, my first regency romance, Before the Season Ends, was still on sale for only $2.51. Please pass the word!

Thanks, and Warmest Blessings,

Linore

New Year, New Goals

Are you enjoying 2013 yet?

I used to hate the months of January and February. Honestly, after the excitement and fun of the holidays, it was as disappointing as a really bad ending to a good book to be inundated with snow and ice and stuck in the house. I had a few winters like that on eastern Long Island when my kids were little.  One year, we had a deep snow (I mean DEEP--four feet--which is very deep for Long Island.) Our driveway got covered, then a wet snow left it topped with an ice-blanket so thick we couldn't use the driveway all winter. My husband had to park on the street for weeks and weeks.

Yes, there were days of sledding and days of building snowmen, and hot cocoa with marshmallows. There was snuggling and reading aloud, and days with the (new to us) Nintendo Donkey Kong, which my boys instantly took to like magnets to iron. (I didn't realize then that the purchase of that first Nintendo system would change our family life forever! It seems boys and video games are fused at the hip--or is it at the mouse?) 

Anyway, in recent years, I've learned to love January and February, and here's why. A new year is the perfect time to rev up the tired old routines that aren't working in your life and make changes that count.

Yeah, I know, you've heard it all before, resolutions and all that. But I'm not talking about vague resolutions or good intentions. I'm talking about a specific list of goals, broken down into manageable chunks, and a plan for how to reach each one. (Who cares what the weather's like when you've got so much to keep you busy and interested in life?)

In a nutshell, I start with a Master List of Goals, break them into monthly goals, and use a daily to-do list to stay on track. I have five major areas of life which I create goals for: Personal, Family, House and Home, Career, and Finance.

I'll give more details on this in my next post, but rest assured that when you see immediate, if small, victories and changes in your life, it is encouraging. So January is a time for me to rejoice in the new disciplines I prayerfully implement, and February is exciting because by mid-month, some of my new disciplines will be new habits. (I should also be a pound or two lighter by then; you know, the pound or two that came on over the holidays? No sense bringing it with me all the way to summer!)

How about you? Do you start new goals with the start of the year? What's your biggest goal this year?

Leave a comment and you'll be entered into my new book giveaway. That's all it takes.*Here's what you can win:

Help Your Twenty-Something Get A Life...And Get It Now, by Ross Campbell, M.D., Kregel Publishing
with a foreword by Gary Chapman, Ph.D.

SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE!

My first novel, Before the Season Ends (A Regency Inspirational Romance) is available on Kindle right now for only $2.51!  Great snuggle-up reading (or so they tell me) for a song. :) I have no idea how long my publisher will keep it at this price--I only discovered quite by accident that it was marked down! 


*Book Drawing for US residents only, sorry.   I should also mention that it will have underlined passages because I'm just finishing this book but I underline as I go. The reason I underline is twofold: One: I'm compelled to! Two: I hire my daughter to type up all the underlined passages and keep them for later when I want to review what I learned in a book. (I got this tip from Mike Hyatt. Great idea!) So-pardon my underlining--but if you'd like to read the book, leave a comment and you'll be in the drawing! 

Talk Again Soon, :)

Linore

 Merry Christmas and Warmest Blessings

 to you and yours! 

I pray your Christmas is filled with warmth, wrapped in blessings and touched by His love. 

Hugs,

from my heart to yours,

Linore 

Before you go, please enjoy the following vintage illustrations:

The banqueting room at the Regent's Brighton Pavilion. Undoubtedly the place for many a lavish Christmas dinner. 

Angels Singing

A Christmas Greeting

"Christmas Dinner,"  Cruikshank

Our cat, Hobbes, emerging from within the branches of our Christmas tree!  

 

 

 

Merry, Merry Christmas!

Warmest Blessings,

Linore

PS: Check your email for details on the next giveaway which starts tomorrow. If you don't receive "Woman of Faith" updates in your inbox, simply add your email to the subscription box to the right (choose one: either Feedburner or Feedblitz.) 

Contest Winner!

The winner of 365 Ways to Prepare for Christmas is Karen K!  Congratulations, Karen! I'll get your book in the mail right away.


Just Sayin':
The blog has been REALLY quiet, and many of you have missed opportunities to win free books. I've had two readers who have won more than once recently (including, now, Karen) as they have simply taken a moment to leave a comment after a post!

Let me encourage you to participate.

My goal is to run drawings throughout 2013, so be sure to open WOMAN OF FAITH emails when you see them. Read the post, leave a comment, and perhaps win a book. It's that easy.

Besides the chance to win, it helps me get to know you. 

While I haven't had a new full-length fiction release this past year, I have manuscripts with my agent and I'd love to know you're getting the news when one gets picked up by a publisher. So please subscribe now if you haven't already!

Before you go:
Don't forget that my Christmas ebook is still available at a sale price! 

         Regency House Christmas: The Definitive Guide to a Remarkably Regency Yuletide!

Read more about it, or get your copy here.

Find out some fascinating facts about a Regency Christmas from my recent post to "Regency Reflections".

Thanks, and
Warmest Blessings,

Linore

Festive Christmas Table Idea

 I love doing something different each year, even though the family loves traditions. Adding a little surprise to the house makes everyone happy, it seems. And it doesn't take much to slip in a new treat, tradition, or small blessing. Today's nifty little idea fits the bill. Like the wonderful recipes for filling your house with Christmas scents, it also comes from this week's giveaway book: 365 Ways to Prepare For Christmas, by David Monn.

In the tradition of Victorian Christmas crackers, make your own

 "Surprise Rolls."

Take a cardboard tube such as the kind from an empty roll of paper towels, or toilet tissue (the ideal size).  Using a pretty foil or heavy wrapping paper,  cut a "ten by twenty inch piece out. Center the tube on the paper, and roll it up, pinching the paper together at one end, and tying it off at that end with a long piece of curling ribbon. Fill the tube with candies or other small treats and coins. Pinch the other end together and tie with another piece of curling ribbon."

 

Open out the ends of the paper rolls in a fan shape; then curl the ribbons.*

 

I like the idea of using these as place settings on Christmas (and if your children want to pull them apart afterwards, as above, that's fine, too!)

 

How about you?

 

What's your simple trick to add festivity to your holiday table or home?

Leave a comment and you'll be part of the drawing for this week's giveaway.

PS: Don't miss my post over at Regency Reflections about a Remarkably Regency Yuletide! 

*Adapted from the "Surprise Rolls" from 365 Ways to Prepare for Christmas, by David Monn.  Win this book by entering this week's drawing! Simply leave a comment to be entered. I don't usually get around to drawing a winner until Sunday night, so you have until 12/23 to enter!

Something New for Your Tree

I never saw this idea before, so when I read about making "The Christian Christmas Tree" in this week's giveaway book (365 ways To Prepare for Christmas), I thought you might like to hear about it, too.

The Christian Christmas tree is decorated only with ornaments that have a link to either the Bible or church history.  As author Monn says, "In addition to churches and angels or cherubim..." You could include:

• Wheat, symbolic of life
• Doves
• Scrolls, representing the Pentateuch
• An ark
• A rainbow
• A camel
• Musical notes (for praise and worship)
• Grapes ( the wine of communion)
• A 12 pointed star (the tribes of Israel)
• A lamb
• Candles ("fake or electric never real") since Jesus is the Light of the world

I can think of a few more things to add, such as:

•  A tiny book ornament with the words "Holy Bible"on it
• Lots of baby's breath or cotton wadding for fake "clouds"
• Small instruments like harps, drums and flutes.
• Nativity figures. Add a string or ribbon around an existing nativity set and hang it on the tree instead of putting it on the floor or a table. Each piece becomes an ornament. 

It might not be desirable to make your family tree just a Christian Christmas tree, if, for example, you have years of specially collected ornaments to display. But I like the idea for a small secondary tree for a hallway or child's room.

What do you think? Would it be pretty? Would it help remind you and your family of the real meaning of Christmas?

Let me hear your thoughts. I love to find out what my readers think. And don't forget that a comment enters you into the current giveaway of 365 Ways to Prepare for Christmas. 

Warmest Blessings,

Linore

Warmest Blessings,

Linore
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Be Careful Little Eyes, What You See

A facebook post was recently brought to my attention, made by a relative of mine. (I only see posts if they appear on my page when I click on to facebook. I simply don't have time to check individual pages of anyone. So I would have missed this. And perhaps I should have.)

Be Careful Little Eyes

I have a terrible penchant for responding to things, even when I don't want to. I take a shower and suddenly I'm putting together a reply in my head; I wait in line, or go to bed at night, and there it is again: I have to answer! (And thus, the quote from that old Sunday school hymn, "Be Careful Little Eyes, What You See.)   This post is a case in point: I wish I'd never seen it, because then I could have happily ignored the need to respond. 

Here's what it said: (I'm quoting from memory, but I've definitely got the gist of it);

"I love my family!!! But I have some right wing Christian relatives who make me want to kick their teeth in! There is no God, so please don't waste my brain cells!"

Ahem.
Being ME--meaning I can't help but to begin a response, my first thought ( I must confess) was something like this:

Really? Was that brain cell number one or brain cell number two? If you happen to find brain cell number three, tell it to connect with your heart before deciding upon spiritual matters. It's only from the heart that we can know God, even though he assuredly engages our intellect as well......blah, blah, blah.

OK, that's not a nice answer, I thought. So I moved on to what I hoped was a better response:


"Methinks the lady doth protest too much." Your problem (dear niece) is not with me or any other right wing Christian, but with God Himself. When was the last time you had a heart-to-heart with your Creator? I'm sorry you feel so angry and bitter--truly, I'm sorry for you as well as saddened by you--but really. Your contention is not between me and you, or us and you--it is between you and God.

But what if she's not familiar with MacBeth? (from which the "lady protesting" line comes.) And what if she refuses to take her angst to God? Well, there's nothing I can do about that.

Perhaps my response is still too snarky. (I did NOT post this to fb beneath her post for that reason.) But have you noticed this? People love to spout off against God without actually going to Him at all. Blaming the messenger, so to speak. And what do they blame us for? For insisting that morality matters, that abortion is murder, and that homosexuality is an offense and an abomination (not my words, by the way. It's what the Bible teaches.)

I stand unapologetic about all of the above. In fact, it delights me that God is a God of morality and justice. That he loves LIFE, goodness, healthy families and healthy marriages. I love the Lord!

I am not angry at my niece--grieved, perhaps, would be closer to the truth. Despite her wanting to kick me in the teeth, I have no such inclination or desire to do the same to her.

I'd love to give her a hug, though. I'd especially love to welcome her with that hug into the family of God! Would you join me in praying for the members of my family who don't know their God?

Thanks for listening and especially for your prayers.....
Warmest Blessings,

Linore
PS: As always, I have a book giveaway going on, and any comment entitles you to an entry for the drawing.
The book this week is 365 Ways to Prepare for Christmas. Even if you get it a little late to implement its ideas for this year, you'll have all year to plan ahead for next. 

Regency House Christmas!

The winner of last week's book giveaway, An English Christmas, is Amada Chavez! Congratulations, Amada! Please email me at Linore(at)LinoreBurkard(dot)com with your complete mailing address so I can get the book to you ASAP.

Thanks, everyone else, who entered. Be sure to enter this week's drawing for 365 Ways to Prepare for Christmas, by David Monn. 
 It's chock-full of ideas for a crafty, home-made Christmas that are sure to inspire. 

 

 What's New

I spoke on Blog Talk Radio with host Carol Topp (*standing in for publisher Felice Gerwitz). If you are a writer, you'll want to listen in as I share tips on building that all-important "Author's Platform" that publishers look for. It's a career boosting experience in 20 minutes. :)

Listen to internet radio with FeliceGerwitz on Blog Talk Radio

More Christmas!

Some of you know

I wrote a Regency Christmas (non-fiction) ebook called,

Regency House Christmas: The Definitive Guide to a Remarkably Regency Yuletide!  It's bursting with illustrations, Regency customs, poems, hymns, recipes and more.

  I started this book because I wanted to know exactly what Christmas would have been like during the Regency.  I already knew enough to recognize that a lot of other writers were getting it very wrong. 

 So, I buried myself in research and came out with Regency House Christmas. This was a few years ago, before the ebook industry exploded. So it's a PDF, not yet optimal for e-readers. (It can be read on an e-reader but won't have the easy navigation you're accustomed to.)

I keep meaning to update the ebook--they say old habits die hard, and my penchant for collecting information regarding an early 19th Century English Christmas hasn't waned. Therefore, I have much to add. I'm making it a top priority of 2013 to have the new shiny e-book all ready for most e-readers by next year's Christmas season. I wanted to do it for this year, but other writing projects--and life--got in the way. 

SO-for right now:  If you get a copy of the ebook as is (in PDF) your receipt will entitle you to the new version of the book ABSOLUTELY FREE.* Originally offered for $14.95, it's on SALE for only $9.95. 

Regency House Christmas Sale !

*On the chance that  Regency House Christmas gets a new publisher, I will not be able to fulfill giving out free copies--but I will be able to award bonus downloads of equally Christmasy content.  Either way, it's a gift that keeps on giving! 

In addition to the Contents & Bibliography, (click to download this short preview of the ebook), I also send a whole sleigh-load of bonus ebooks full of extra Christmas delights.

Regency House Christmas Sale !

A FEW of the extras are:

A Regency Feast--Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings, and more--25 pages of historical recipes, quotes and illustrations.

Regency House Christmas Receipt Book-- More Christmas feast recipes that you can freely give away to friends and family. ("Receipt" is the old word for recipe.)

The Prayers of Jane Austen--Did you know that Jane wrote a few special prayers that her father used as part of an Anglican service? They were no doubt read at home around the fire of an evening, too.  

Regency Carols--Christmas Hymns of the Day! 

English Housewifery Exemplified--173 pages of a 1764 cookbook!  

Ho, Ho, Ho Christmas Beverages--an entire ebook with special holiday libations

Illustrated historical stories of the season

And much, much more!

 

`

Regency House Christmas Sale !

Enjoy Your Copy Today! After check-out, you will receive your ebooks via the email address on the PayPal Receipt. Thanks very much. Warmest Blessings, Linore

Christmas Scents (and sensibilities)

When it comes to Christmas, a little ambiance goes a long way. Nothing shouts "Christmastime" quite like entering a house to the SMELL of the season.  A fresh new Christmas tree may do the trick, or a really good scented candle or two, but if you want to add a little humidifying scent to your home without doing any baking or rigorous cooking, try the following recipes, adapted from this week's giveaway book: 365 Ways To Prepare For Christmas, by David E. Monn. 

 Seasonal   Fragrance(s)

Place fresh orange rinds, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and fresh ginger in a saucepan, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Simmer on low heat and enjoy the scent that will billow into your home from the kitchen.

Or:

"Combine an ounce of cinnamon sticks, an ounce and a half of whole cloves, half an ounce of fresh or dried bay leaves, and simmer for two minutes. Set out in a decorative bowl."

Or:

"Warm the oven, turn it off, then sprinkle cinnamon on a cookie sheet and put it in the oven." *

*p. 104, 365 Ways to Prepare For Christmas, David Monn

There's another kind of ambience that goes a long way during the holiday season, too:  keeping your expectations at bay. As women, we sometimes don't notice that our attitude and mood can affect the entire household. It's like that popular t-shirt that says, "if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."

So-- make an effort to, yes, be happy! You'll give your entire household a lift.

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Don't forget to leave a comment after any post to enter the current giveaway. This week's winner will get a copy of 365 Ways to Prepare for Christmas, by David Monn!  

5 Best Ways to Read a Book (Before Christmas)

 

FICTION FRIDAY 

I thought you would appreciate a little fool-proof advice on how to actually get some reading in during this ultra-busy season.  There are soooo many extra things to do, places to go, ways to spend time and money, that you're probably thinking, Who would even WANT to try and read a book now, right?

(Clears throat.)

Well. Um. Just in case I'm  not the only one, here are my top five ways to get reading  in, even during the busiest of times. (Consider it taking care of yourself time, and you'll be better able to handle the stress and bustle the rest of the month.)

And why not? A woman needs a good book now and then.

Of course you already know what book you want to read. It's been sitting on your bedside table for weeks, maybe months. So get it and go snuggle up in your favorite spot, being sure to have brought along a cup of tea or coffee or your beverage of choice. Make that favorite QUIET spot--for me, with so many bodies in this house, it has to be my bedroom.

Hmmm. I'm so glad I took the time to read this.

[Note: This works best after you've run yourself ragged doing all the things we all know we're SUPPOSED to be doing during this busy season.]

Now you're ready to implement my top five fool-proof methods to get that book read. 

1.  Ignore phone when it rings. (Someone else can get it, and no, you aren't available at the moment. You won't be for a few hours. Maybe not all night.)

2. Ignore children, who will suddenly MISS you, need you, and annoy you until you say, "I'll let you know when I've finished my book." Even your husband will suddenly want to know what you're up to. (Tell him.)

3. Ignore clock.

4.  Ignore inner voice that says you're wasting time or having too much fun.

5. Ignore the house, the calendar, and the world.  (World = television, pc, iphone, etc.)

Ah! This story enchants me!

Voila! You've just read a book!
That wasn't so hard, was it? 

What about you? Got a top method for squeezing in a good book now and then? We authors love to know. :) Leave me a comment and you'll be entered into the latest giveaway. 

Just don't do this: (How NOT to finish a book)

Reminder: GIVEAWAY OF THE WEEK: 

An English Christmas

One last word: 

For fool-proof uninterrupted reading, start small. Try my short stories!

HER ONE TRUE SOLDIER 

Is pop-singer Christine Hartman's fairy-tale success story about to end? When a man in camo literally falls across her path while she's on a routine walk on her private, posted retreat property, she knows danger is afoot.  Readers will find suspense, mystery and romance in this short "novelette" that nevertheless manages to end on Ms. Burkard's famously upbeat notes. Only $1.49 on Amazon.com!

COACH AND FOUR: ALLISANDRA'S TALE

One young woman trapped in a coach and four with one established rake. And who is the mysterious highwayman? Treachery, romance and betrayal lead to unexpected love.Only $1.49 on Amazon.com or Smashwords.com (for other e-readers besides Kindle)

DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT TO BE ENTERED IN THE DRAWING. 
See you soon,
 :)
Linore 
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