Books by Elaine Littau

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2014-07-08T12:06:00.000-05:00

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We live in the Heartland. It's not unusual at all to see someone walking down the street (or into our home) with spurs jingling on their dirty boots and a gun on their hip. A handkerchief isn't just western decor, it's necessary for keeping the dirt out of your nose during dust storms. Our family loves the song, "Jesus was a Country Boy" by Clay Walker. The idea of walking down a dusty road with Y'shua of Nazareth is stirring. What do you 'reckon visit with Him about?

While the children are playing Cowboys, Mom needs a little entertainment too right? Let me suggest this great opportunity for a nice bundle of goodies. There are books in this bundle that the whole family is going to LOVE!

The harsh consequences of other people's sin leaves Nan bitter and broken, but God's amazing Love prevails in her life and overflows into the lives of those around her. Elaine Littau is the author of eleven published books and many magazine and newspaper articles. She is a mentor/coach for other authors and enjoys public speaking for groups. Many enjoy listening to her humorous take on life. Even the simplest activity takes on a life of its own when Elaine is involved in the telling of it.

“Trust me,” she heard a voice say to her. When her deaf daughter, 3-year-old Alexis, goes missing, Stella Brigg faces an incredible struggle. Alone, while her husband serves in the armed forces overseas, Stella must depend on Someone greater than anyone she’s ever known. Someone who loves her even more than Don ever did. Only that kind of love can carry her through in her search for Alexis. R.A. Giggie

Joshua and Ruth Brookings are traveling by stagecoach to finally join their parents in Montana. Attacked by murderous outlaws, the teens barely escape with their lives and must survive in the barren Wyoming and Montana territories and escape the man who's hunting them.Seven years ago, Jed Stuart ran away from home and joined Tom's gang. Jed is tired of the lawlessness and wants out. The only problem? He is the boss's right-hand man and will never be able to leave. And what's one more stagecoach robbery, anyway?Can Joshua lean on God's strength to keep himself and his sister alive until they find a town? Will Jed be able to face his anger or will it consume him completely? All three are running--the hunter and hunted. What will happen when they meet? Faith Blum

Alyce Lomlossa has never dreamed of visiting King Timson. To a member of a minority group that opposes his rule, his brooding, glum palace is associated only with imprisonment and death. Though it's been a long time since any Sherban was arrested, Alyce feels little in common with her ruler and is quite content to stay unnoticed.

Until a mandatory summons to the King's court dance leaves her no choice.

A 20,000 word novella that enlarges the story of Cinderella. Sarah Scheele

One Viking woman. One God. One legendary journey to North America.

In the tenth century, when pagan holy women rule the Viking lands, Gudrid turns her back on her training as a seeress to embrace Christianity. Clinging to her faith, she joins her husband, Finn, on a journey to North America.

But even as Gudrid faces down murderous crewmen, raging sickness, and hostile natives, she realizes her greatest enemy is herself--and the secrets she hides might just tear her marriage apart.

Almost five centuries before Columbus, Viking women sailed to North America with their husbands. God's Daughter, Book One in the Vikings of the New World Saga, offers an expansive yet intimate look into the world of Gudrid Thorbjarnardottir--daughter-in-law of Eirik the Red, and the first documented European woman to have a child in North America. Heather Day Gilbert

After the brutal massacre in his village, a broken, grieving boy chooses to live with a golden dragon in the wild rather than go to the mountains to be with his own people. If only he had known then what that simple choice meant… Thirteen years later, Keegan, no longer a boy, learns that his younger sister survived the massacre and so sets off to be reunited with her. When Keegan accidentally interrupts a plot against a princess, what should have been a fairly simple trip turns into a complicated struggle for survival. A mysterious elder appears, full of wit and riddle. Mythical monsters shed their fictional skin and hungrily pursue Keegan and his dragon. Haunting nightmares begin to tear at his mind. As he continues on his quest to be reunited with his sister, Keegan is only just beginning to understand what it means to be The Dragons Son. Kathryn Fogleman

Fern Valley is home to a group of wonderful animals who have fun and face some of the same problems children everywhere do. Roberta and Mildred Cornstalk are creative chickens dealing with the loss of their beloved granny, and they’re looking for something to do to cheer them up. Want to know what adventures they find? Want to know what happens to Roberta and Mildred’s brother, Edward, when he goes fishing, what birthday surprise is in store for Betsy Woolrich, or what lesson Kimmy Curlytail learns when she keeps something that isn’t hers? Then follow this endearing cast of characters as they enjoy their time together and learn important lessons.

A perfect addition for any child’s personal library and a joy for families to share, Fern Valley is a collection to be treasured for many years to come. Aileen Stewart

It’s almost the end of summer, and seventeen-year-old Julien is seated around the campfire with his sister and six cousins, waiting for Uncle Frank to begin his story.

He’s the best storyteller in Louisiana, and tonight he’s got something really good—the story of the Alligator King. But first, he has to go back even further and tell another story—that of Eagle Hawk, who became a man and set off to follow his vision, where soon he meets a beautiful Irish girl and falls in love.

“But what does this have to do with the Alligator King?” they all want to know. And Uncle Frank just puffs on his pipe and grins.

The Alligator King is the first novel in the Legends of the Swamps series by Kimberly Thompson. The old (although no one knows exactly) Uncle Frank weaves fact with flair to create a tale worthy of a late-night campfire. Get caught up in the mystery as the boys and girls lean forward in their seats, ready to hear what happens next, begging to interrupt Uncle Frank and ask the question: did this really happen? You can decide for yourself, because this is where Uncle Frank’s epic tale begins… Kimberly Thompson

Chloe May's father found his wife's tactics incredulous as she dealt with their impoverished life and her own restlessness. Then came the Depression and the droughts of the Dust Bowl. It took more than their losses, near starvation, and apparent defeat to put a tear in her father's eye. In fact, even the women in the Whitehurst family were seldom reduced to tears-conniving and rash behavior, perhaps, but not to tears! The family knew laughter and fun, balancing heartaches and poverty. Chloe May: Daughter of the Dust Bowl is based on the true story of the author's mother, Chloe May, and her family's frequent moves in, around, and out of the Oklahoma Panhandle of the '20s and '30s. Laced with historical facts of the time, Chloe May: Daughter of the Dust Bowl is a must read for younger readers wishing for a glimpse into one of America's most difficult eras, and older readers who will identify with one family's modes of survival. Grace Lundmark

The Life of Bud is the story of life and how important we all are and how hard it is to let go in the end. The story follows Bud, who starts out in life as a tiny bud—he feels insignificant. But Bud grows into a beautiful, vibrant leaf on the Mighty Oak Tree and becomes a very important part of the tree. Those who have looked for a children's book that explains gently about the topic of life and death, look no further. The Life of Bud explains to children and reminds adults that death is an important part of life. A Simpler Time - Oversaturated with the latest video games and iPhone apps, does anyone slow down to remember A Simpler Time? Join A.J. as she discovers a summer of fun with her mom, finding animals in the clouds, and a trek to find the perfect four-leaf clover! What's in the Corner? Sing along to this musical mystery “tail” as Muffin the rescue dog discovers what's in the corner of her suburban backyard, while protecting her owner! What’s in the Corner? A Muffin "Tail" is Muffin's second adventure and is sure to spark the imagination of children of all ages. Went Out To Get a Donut - Came Home With a Muffin - At first, Muffin was scared and hid under her mommy's chair. Muffin found out that training class was fun and interesting, and her mommy gave her treats and affection for doing her lessons correctly—what we call 'positive reinforcement'. Muffin became our 'star student!' Muffin graduated from her first level of classes-Beginner Education and is starting her second level of training soon. Laura W. Eckroat

Christian writer Lynn Baber retired as a National and World Champion horse breeder/ trainer after careers as a business and equine pro. From horses to "contending for the faith" every message is based on God's Word. Lynn shares simple truth even when it's not the popular path.

Lynn teaches worthy leadership, methods for achieving success, and the process of building faith under the brand Christian Horse Training for Amazing Grays Ministry, a 501.c.3 non-profit.

Life is simple when you follow a worthy leader. Peace, joy, contentment, and security are found with proper focus and commitment. Lynn shares messages in print and in person to help folks find blessed simplicity as Christians, horse lovers, and citizens, in a world where complexity and confusion presently reign.

Highly credentialed in matters of leadership, relationship, and most things equine, Lynn offers a unique mix of experience and perspective that is open, conversational, and personal. For folks who love Jesus Christ, horses - or both!

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A Crystal Vase or a Window Pane

2013-11-08T06:41:00.001-06:00

A Crystal Vase or a Window Pane

The beauty of cut crystal throwing prisms of color from bright sunlight has always mesmerized me. In fact, I stood in awe at the beauty of a crystal collection that was beautifully displayed in my local museum. The collection had taken years for the owner to collect and had been donated for the pleasure of visitors after her death.

This morning I was listening to the Gaither Vocal Band singing the song “I Then Shall Live”. The words were displayed on the screen so the viewers/listeners could sing along. I did try to sing with them, but tears and sobs were the most prominent sound coming from my throat.

The line that shot straight to my heart was: “Your Kingdom come around and through and in me. Your power and glory, let them shine through me.” The other words in the song are equally meaningful, but this morning those particular words were a message to my heart.

I thought of the beautiful cut crystal. Although it was a joy to behold as a vase or container, it wouldn’t make a very good window. As I heard the words about letting the Lord shine through me, I thought of how I clean the windows of my patio door so that I can get a clear view of the countryside. Cut crystal would distort and obscure the view. Only a smooth pane of glass will do for that use.

Contemplating this thought, I thought of how we Christians are to be a window to the world to show them Jesus. I wondered if I had so decorated myself so that the lost can’t see Jesus through me. God, forgive me. What they need is a clear representation of the Lord to reflect the glory and power of our God.

The thing about window glass is that we don’t really notice it unless it is dirty. We are glad it is there in the wall to open up the view to us, but it is not what we see. We look through it. I don’t want to be a decoration in a museum. I want to be a window, clean and clear, that isn’t even noticed except to be an opening to see the Lord.

Elaine Littau

We Take Care of Things that are Important to Us

2013-09-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

This summer has been the summer of taking care of things. My husband and I have been working diligently on resurfacing decks, tables, chairs, and the bed of our flatbed trailer. We have repainted a lot of trim on our house too. The idea is to extend the life of everything so that replacements won't have to be made.

At the big box lumber store, the guy mixing the surface coating for our decks etc. told us that the product we were buying was guaranteed for the remaining life of the wood it is put on. Hmmmm. That is interesting. If the wood is rotten, there isn't much guarantee, but if we caught it in time, the guarantee is really good.

The bottom line is that we take care of the things that are costly to replace, sentimental, or otherwise important to us. Relationships are some of those things. Our three boys graduated high school in 1996,1997, and 2000. After they started college, they were never around here much. They are all married and have a family of their own to take care of.

Like I said before, this summer has been a summer of taking care of things. We arranged to spend a week in the beautiful mountains of Colorado with all of our sons and their families. We camped...tent camped...roughed it...(I am definitely looking into getting a camper for next time.)

We rebuilt relationships around the campfire and sightseeing. Some rough edges were knocked off of us and we remembered life together was not always idyllic. We did remember that close relationship with one another is worth it. Worth working through everything even if it is hard.

Our boys are worth it. Every prayer prayed asking God to remind them of His glory and every tear for the things that sometimes come up is worth it. I love those people. They are my people. I will take care of those relationships.

I have been on the Potter's wheel this summer. The Lord has shown me things in myself that need reshaping. I have been pounded and reformed into a closer relationship than ever with Jesus. I have realized that I have let some things go that should have been worked on. The closeness with God is definitely worth taking care of.

Lessons from the Fire

2013-09-07T07:30:00.000-05:00

When I was thirty years old, I took china painting lessons. This little creamer is one of many items I produced while in class. Although I had painted many oils, watercolors, and acrylic landscapes; the technique for laying down china painting medium is totally different.

First, the paint is crushed glass with pigment and it has to by mixed with linseed oil. As you place your brush on the slick surface of the porcelain, if you put too much pressure on the brush, nothing happens. In order to lay color down, it takes a very light touch. To highlight or lighten areas, pressure is applied.

On the first lesson I learned to erase mistakes, wipe off with a finger or a little cloth. This was very different than the other mediums I had used. At the end of the class the teacher took our pieces to fire them. She told us that some of the image might disappear and some of the colors might change. It was difficult for me to release my labor into her hands and for it to be put in the fires.

The following week, the plate had been fired. Much of my labor was gone. Much of it barely showed up on the white porcelain. Other colors were brilliant. One thing was for certain. The piece was not finished.

The teacher demonstrated how to layer color into the background to make the foreground stand out and give definition to the petals. Still, at the end of class, I found it hard to release since I knew it would come out of the 3000+ degree fire changed. I remembered that it would be useless to think the painting I had done in class would stand the test of time without the fire. All the work would vanish the first time it was washed. So, I let it go into the fire several more times after laying on more depth of color.

The work of the fire was to melt the crushed glass into the porcelain and fuse the pigmented glass into the fabric of the porcelain. It had to be hot, very hot, to do this. The very last firing was to make the gold edging permanent.

When I first saw the gold paint, I was very upset. It was ugly army green. I didn't want to put that on my now beautiful plate. That stuff didn't look like gold to me. Of course, I didn't want to disappoint my teacher, so I let it got into the fire once again. The kiln isn't fired up as hot for the gold application. If it is fired at the same temperature used before on the plate, it either burns or disappears.

(This it the first plate.)

I almost cried when I saw that first plate. I couldn't believe I had made something so pretty. The gold was awesome. Even though it was a painstaking process, the end result was worth it.

Now for the lesson I learned with this. God uses crushed glass (things of importance to us) to paint on us. Our life is the porcelain piece. Some of the beautiful things painted seem to vanish after each fiery trial, but he brings the loveliness to the forefront with a few more dark brushstrokes before we go through the fire again. In the end, we come forth with gold and are a vessel that can be used because the work that He has done in us is not temporary, but melted into our very spirit.

Do not despise the firing in God's kiln. It is to bring out beauty that could never be shared otherwise.

Elaine Littau, author

Elaine Littau, Author: A Table for the Grandkids

2013-08-17T08:48:00.001-05:00

Elaine Littau, Author: A Table for the Grandkids: Today's picture of the day is because I miss my grandkids. (The oldest boys are teenagers, so I guess this isn't fair to them...

Elaine Littau, Author: Working Around the House

2013-08-14T07:16:00.001-05:00

Elaine Littau, Author: Working Around the House: This is my picture of the day. The hubs is scraping the old paint off the garage eve. He got home earlier than usual and finished thi...

My Crown

2013-08-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

My Crown

When I was a little girl the television show called “Queen for a Day” was big. Mama and I watched it every day. The contestants, if memory serves, told about their needs. The lady with the most pathetic story won the prize.

They gave her kitchen appliances and things like that. I couldn’t care less about those as a three or four year old. The object I focused on was THE CROWN! I didn’t even care that much about the robe they put on her. The crown was the big deal for me.

Mama and I also watched the Miss America pageant. (Daddy was usually at work and wouldn’t have wanted to watch anyway.) That crown was a prize I coveted, but I didn’t want to have to wear a swimsuit to get it. Besides, I knew that even though any of my sisters would have been pretty enough to win it, I wouldn’t measure up to their beauty.

I found myself longing for that crown. At that time I told Mama I wanted a “prown”. I really started out young with this desire. I must have talked about it non-stop. I wondered if I ever would obtain a crown of my own.

One day, an opportunity presented itself. A wonderful woman known to me as Sister Little came to our church and held a children’s crusade. At the front of the church, on the back of the platform, were two ornate chairs. Each chair bore a crown.

She informed us that one crown was for a boy and one was for a boy. The way to earn the crown was to memorize the Bible verses she gave to us. THIS WAS MY CHANCE!

Mama helped me all during the days of the crusade to learn a verse. I knew I had won the crown. On the last day each of us stood before Sister Little and said our verse. Most of the children my age crashed and burned.

Finally, it was my turn. I proudly said, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” She smiled and told me I did a great job. The next kid said, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning…”

Wait! I thought. There is more? How did I not know this? The last child recited more than anyone. She won the crown! I was crestfallen. The second place child was given a princess crown.

When I got home I cried real tears. Jim, my brother who was in high school and was the only sibling still living at home, must have felt sorry for me. He went to the corner drug store and purchased the crown pictured above for me.

My eyes almost popped out of my head when I saw the beautiful prize. I couldn’t believe that this teenager, who considered me a pest, loved me enough to give me the desire of my heart. I never looked at him the same again.

I wore it almost every waking moment. When I was in fourth grade the teacher assigned me the part of Queen Isabella in the school play. I was ready with my crown. Mama sewed a red taffeta gown for me to wear to complete the look. I had finally become a real queen.

I learned that those who love the Lord will receive a crown when they get to heaven. Now, I KNEW that would be the ultimate crown. Through my growing up years I kept that prize in mind. Of course I wanted to be with Jesus and I thought the crown He would give to me would be so sweet to have.

It might have been silly, but this thought was in the back of my mind even when I was eighteen and going to Bible College. Our choir travelled and sang in many towns. We had several quartets and trios that also performed. One quartet sang a song that struck me between my eyes. They sang, “We’ll cast our crowns at His nailed scared feet. Our joy complete in His presence sweet. Eternity’s greatest privilege will be casting our crowns at His feet.”

Somehow I had never read the Scripture this referenced. The crown had been my goal in life. It may seem silly, but I am being honest. At first I wasn’t sure I wanted to give my crown to the Lord.

As I held tightly to this future crown, I thought of my Friend, my Savior, The One Who loves me. How could I hold on to something like that when all glory and honor and praise belong to Him?

If giving this prize to Him brings Him any representation of my gratitude to Him, I gladly lay it at His feet. I think of the words of a hymn we sang when I was young: “Oh I want to see Him, look upon His face. There to sing forever of His saving grace…” Even a perfect crown, created by Him, is not as precious as Jesus.

Digging Into the Past

2013-07-24T12:06:00.004-05:00

Last year I stepped out of my comfort zone and began to write a "modern day" book. Six Miles from Nashville is set in the 1970s. When I told my sons I was writing something modern, they told me that 1970s was not MODERN. I beg to differ.

Those were my Jr. High and High School years. The process of writing this book was more difficult than I could imagine. Stepping back into those years brought back a lot of memories I hadn't thought about in a long time. Most of the memories were great...and then...there were some I would rather forget. Lest you think the book is a autobiography of my life, I want to assure you it is NOT.

The mood of the people of the time is from my perspective. I was and still am, a small town girl in the heartland of the USA. I wrote the book from that frame of mind. I love the area where I live and the people who are determined enough to live here. In those days, everyone didn't have internet or more than four television channels. We believed everything that was on the news and in the newspapers.

Styles and language didn't travel to our little town until it was old news in California and New York. I remember a time when two teens came to speak to our youth group. They were from California. My best friend and I tried to take notes on the really neat slang they were saying. We thought their expressions were the best thing since sliced bread. Today things are so different. People learn styles and all of that in real time. I think having the Wards and Sears catalogs did help a lot of us be sort of current.

In my town, not everyone was a member of the YMCA and could play sports. (Now days, those who can't afford it are provided for.) My parents had enough money for me to be in the Y, but that wasn't a priority for them. I was not very coordinated, so it wasn't a priority for me either. I do know that not everyone who was on a team was allowed to play. Most of the high school football players were on the bench waiting of an opportunity to play if the stars needed a break. That was before the days where everyone received a trophy for just showing up. The trophy holders really did earn the trophy.

Since I am ranting, I have difficulty understanding how the High School graduates these days have a grade point average well over 100%. Our top grads made from 90%to 99.99%. There were no honors classes or bonus points to be earned. About half or less of the graduates went to college. The rest managed to build a life without it. They entered the trades of carpentry, oil field work, plumbers, electricians, farming and a host of other blue collar work. Some of these people were honor grads.

I was able to go to Bible College because the denomination I was a part of had a small Bible College in Kansas that accepted free will offerings as tuition. My dad was retired and we didn't have a lot of extra money for my education, so this was a good fit. I am very blessed that I went there because that is the place I met the love of my life. We were engaged while we attended there.

Things were different back then. Christian morality was taken seriously. Christians didn't live together without marriage. We tried to dress modestly in the age of mini skirts and tight jeans. We weren't perfect, but we knew right from wrong. We took responsibility for our actions. Our parents taught us that if we made wrong decisions, they were our decisions and nobody's fault but our own. Sometimes I wish for those days, but I am so glad for my life now. I will dig into the past to write books, but I don't want to dwell thee.

One Author's Journey Between Books

2013-06-22T09:54:00.002-05:00

It is difficult to admit sometimes that when life gets busy, Bible study time is put on the shelf. It seems that for three weeks it has been a struggle to get back to consistency in this daily practice. I could use the excuse that I have been on vacation for two of those weeks and brought three grandchildren home with me, but two of them are teens and the youngest is soon to be eight. They are hardly what you would consider high maintenance.

One day this week I pulled out my Bible and my copy of Streams in the Desert and began another attempt to get back into the groove of daily devotions. Looking at the last page I read in the devotional reading book made me realize just how long it had been since I had carved out time for it. Mind you, there have been countless prayers going up during my lack of devotional time, but it just wasn't the same as listening to the words of the Lord. It was more like a one-sided conversation. (I really hate to do all the talking because I already know all my stuff and find that I am not that interesting.) I knew I NEEDED to hear the voice of God.

My Bible reading was in I John. It was like a refreshing rain breaking a drought. My soul drank the Word and felt refreshed yet, I knew I was still parched deep down. It reminded me of going out to our pasture next to our dried up garden and seeing the inch wide cracks that have developed during the past few summers. I was watering the horse that day and decided to fill in that one crack with water. I stood there with the water hose going full blast for several minutes and the water never did get the gash in the ground full. I have to admit that it sort of scared me to think that our ground was that dry.

I know my soul is similar to that wounded patch of earth. I need a refilling of the Holy Spirit. I also know that God does not hold back when we ask. I opened the devotional book after reading the first and second chapter of I John. On the reading marked for June 9. The Scripture reading was Psalm 37:3 - "Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture." In the words for this date, the writer expressed the thought of "borrowing trouble". My daddy always told us not to "borrow trouble", so this was not a new thought.

The line, "I'll bear the sorrow that comes tomorrow, but I'll borrow none today." penetrated through the dryness of my spirit. I was reminded that I am not responsible for how things turn out for my children or grandchildren or any of the people I love. I had let worry of these things sap strength out of me. I know the words were penned back in the 1920s, but they were relevant to me on Monday of this week. It was as if the Holy Spirit was pouring water and oil into my thirsty, cracked heart. I was refreshed. Thank you, God for your mercy and tender-loving care!
Elaine Littau, author

One Life Can Make a Difference

2013-06-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

Last month a thirty four year old woman passed from this life to the next. She held an insignificant job, wasn't married, and had no children. Everyone in town knew her and she spoke to everyone she saw when she was out and about.

There were dozens of email messages about her to her grandma and grandpa, mother and dad, and sister. I read a lot of them. Most of them spoke of her friendliness and her devotion to worship of Jesus. The messages reflected her life accurately. I contemplated the reach she had.

The major thing I thought of was that she was uninhibited. She had Downs Syndrome. Because of this, she didn't grow up with the 'insecure' filter. When she saw people, she believe in her heart that they surely wanted to have a conversation with her. She remembered names and greeted each person by name. I found that even if I was busy, I could enjoy a quick exchange. She was conscious of time and schedules people keep. Her parents and grandparents did a really good job in this instruction.

She was a sweet worshipper and was able to express herself with abandon. Her arms were lifted and her face upturned. The smile of her face as she communed with God was that of an angel. As I thought of this, my heart broke a little. I am reminded of how 'people conscience' I am. I have observed friends who are able to open up like a flower as songs and prayers are offered in our church services. I have been in their place many times, but allowed wounds to hold me back.

I have been in my new church for three years and still don't know every one's name. It is not a mega church. In fact, it is a small church. My resistance to opening up to people is self-protection. It is also based on an illness I struggled with for fifteen years. The Lord healed me. Praise to the Lord. Now, I have no excuse. The thoughts that go through my mind are things like, "They already have their friends. They don't need me. They are so much younger than me. They are in a different stage of life. They are busy. I am busy..." These are things my little friend never allowed to hold her back.

I am sure there were people who were rude to her, but she didn't let it change her love for them. It didn't change her actions and her expression of love. I learned a lot from her and am going to attempt to break out of the prison of my mind that says that it is better to be quiet and let things go. The prison of this kind is made of stronger stuff than iron bars, but with God's help, it can be done.
Elaine Littau, author

One Author's Journey #10

2013-06-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

This is the tenth post I have written about my writing journey. At this time I am writing and assembling thoughts and facts for book ten. The title is Christmas in Nashville. It is Book II in The Nashville Series. I began this book by going through magazines and clipping out pictures of people. I chose children, men, women, and teens to glue into the thick blue journal I use for the contemporary fiction books I have begun to write. I sort the photos into "families" and "couples". Then, I write characteristics about them and a sketch of their story line.

The next thing I did for this series is to research facts about the Vietnam War. I read a book and several articles on it. This helped me write a timeline for events in the books for this series. To say the least, I have learned so much from this process. It made it easier to plot the book.

This book has been churning in my mind off and on for months, but it has been he most difficult for e to put words to. I have chalked it up to fatigue. Because of this, I have stepped back for a little bit to allow the story to develop more organically. I have facts in place, but it needs heart.

Another book is partially written and was actually going to fit as an independent book between Walk Slowly Through the Dark and Christmas in Nashville, but readers were anxious to get the next installment of the Nashville Series, so I opted to allow myself plenty of time to write Christmas in Nashville this summer.

Sometimes I feel like one of those performers in a circus act whose job it is to keep a bunch of plates spinning. I have had this feeling even as a mother of young children. Now, the 'children' are the books I have been blessed to write. It actually is a delicate balance of writing, re-writing, marketing, and relationship with other authors as well as readers. The last plate that gets ignored until it is ready to topple is the 'recharge plate'. This summer, I am plugging in to The Power Source more than ever. God is the reason for everything in my life. I know this summer will be an important step in the next step of my journey as an author.
Elaine Littau, author

One Author's Journey #9

2013-05-25T07:30:00.000-05:00

When Walk Slowly Through the Dark was published, I could hardly believe that it was book #9. This book was one that jerked at my heart. The content of this book is personal to me. I suppose you could say from reading all the posts I have written about my journey of writing that all of my books reveal a part of me.

Hard subjects are addressed in this title. Dementia is one of them. My mother lived to be 93 years old. She passed away seven years ago this May. In her last few years there were times when she didn't know me. She spoke of loved ones sitting next to her who had passed away many years before. One day I went to see her at the rest home and she was sitting on a bench "Waiting for the train..." The trouble was, she had several others waiting with her. If I went to see her in the early hours of the morning, she was her old self. She knew me and we had lovely visits. Otherwise, it was a sad visit and she thought I was a stranger.

Another issue tackled in this book is how easily communication can be lost or never established between a husband and wife. Terry and I have been married thirty seven years. There are still times when we struggle with communication. It is possible to not know the thoughts and intents of one another's heart. To me, this was an important subject to reveal.

June, the main character of this book, has appeared to be almost too sweet to be true in the other books in the Nan's Heritage Series and the Rescued...a Series of Hope. She needed to reveal her warts and let the readers see what makes her tick. In my limited understanding of quiet people, I had thought that 'quiet' meant sweet and perfect. The saying, "Still waters run deep." was lost on me. I plumbed the depth of that saying and grew to understand it a little better.

It is amazing how writing these books has caused me to look deeper inside myself. I have been challenged to examine why I believe what I believe as well as to decided exactly what I believe about obscure things. I have learned the enjoyment of research and the humbling awe of ideas and creativity coming directly from the inspiration of the Lord. At this posting, I am elbow deep in two different books. I will reveal more about this next week.

Elaine Littau, author

One Author's Journey #8

2013-05-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

It was November 2012 and I signed up for NaNoWriMo again. (National Novel Writing Month) Book #8 was supposed to be the next in the Rescued...a Series of Hope saga. I started the book, Walk Slowly Through the Dark, but just couldn't get the story to advance in an interesting way. One day, while I painted the steps from the laundry room up to our bedroom, a new book idea came to mind.

I had been watching the new television show "Nashville" and found it to be interesting. It seemed that a lot of people were watching and I saw a lot of advertisement for the show. It occurred to me that setting the next book in the Nashville area might be a good move. Perhaps people would find it while they looked for information on the television show. I had never written a contemporary book, but decided that it would be a good fit for this year's writing challenge.

When I told our sons that I was writing a modern day book set in 1974 they laughed. They told me it was hardly a current story since it was almost forty years ago. I told them it was set 100 years later than the last book I wrote so it was modern!

I wanted to write a little about how the young people in the heartland of our country felt in the 1970s while the Vietnam War was going on. I was a teen in those years and remember it well. We loved our soldiers and prayed for them all the time. We wore MIA/POW bracelets and rejoiced when one was returned home.

It was also important to me to show things about the farmers of the Oklahoma and Texas panhandle area. Some of my best friends worked the wheat harvest every summer and I was glad to get to experience it once with them. The farmers here are dedicated to their land and families. Even when other dreams of careers danced in the minds of the farmer's young, the land called them back home.

The characters of Six Miles from Nashville became very real to me. Sweetie, the owner of the diner was based on a very sweet woman I worked for after school. Betty could have been any girl from our high school. The song writing was a very different experience for me. Because I am not really confident in those skills, I always referred to the lyrics as the rough copy that Bill would have to work over to make into a good song.

Next week will be about Walk Slowly Through the Dark. In a lot of ways, it took me down a dark path.

Elaine Littau, author

One Author' Journey #7

2013-05-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

Capture the Wandering Heart is the seventh book I wrote. It is set in the Texas Panhandle area of Palo Duro Canyon near present day Amarillo. Area towns of Clarendon and the now extinct boom town of Tascosa are also places that action takes place. It was important to have this book set close to my home. At many book events I was asked why I hadn't written about the panhandle area. I didn't have a good answer for them. I had contemplated writing about the Perryton area, but one day I knew it had to be set in the canyon.

I read an article from the Amarillo newspaper about how the Kiowa and Apache were subdued in the area by the U.S. army killing 1500 horses that were kept by them in the canyon. It was the last of the Trail of Tears saga. I knew I had to know more, In the following months I read three books and many more articles about the area in the 1800s.One book was about the Native Americans, one was about a land developer, and the other was about Charles Goodnight. I loved the research.

The story also included many folk remedies from the time. My sister was reading a book by "The Good Old Days" that was all about home remedies. There was some wild stuff in there. I had to borrow the book and use some of it in there. One remedy was the "Mad Stone". It was used to save people who contracted rabies. (Google it. You will be surprised.)

I found the research so interesting that I almost got bogged down in it. I discovered that in the 1800s, the Congress was considering putting all deaf people in one of the Western states. It would have been called "The Deaf State"! I am so glad that didn't fly.

One of my high school friends live near Palo Duro Canyon, so she shot some pictures for the cover. I love that she did this for me. Terry and I selected the close up of one of the caves. The other picture I posted here is the view of the canyon that everyone thinks of.

In writing this book, I learned a lot about the area and about myself. It was fun to think up inventions for 1877. I liked having a character who thought 'out of the box'. I found it difficult to write about spousal abuse and how it was handled back then.

God really gave me a lot of wonderful elements for the story line. I know I can't write without His input. In some ways Capture the Wandering Heart is my favorite writing. I had a lot to think about for the next book in the series, but God had a different direction for me to go with book #8. I will tell you all about it next time.

Elaine Littau, author

Spring Cleaning is Not For Wimps

2013-05-09T11:28:00.004-05:00

Here in the Texas Panhandle it seemed that Spring would never arrive. The temperature would reach 70 degrees one day and the next day it snowed. (This happened in May!) Because of this, it has been difficult to believe that the season would ever change.

I went to my sister's house and they were in full swing of planting flowers, repairing irrigation to them, fertilizing, reseeding the lawn, and working on fountains. They keep a beautiful yard. They sat down for a break when I came to visit. Seeing all this activity caused me to feel somewhat lazy. So...

Yesterday I got out my water hose and began spraying the dirt from the windows and brick. The last time we had a little sprinkle of rain or a dusting of snow, my windows looked like someone had taken a squirt bottle and sprayed the windows with mud. I had to get that off the windows.

Little dirty rivers trickled down between the bricks as I sprayed the entire exterior of the house. I got in the screened in porch and swept it clean, sprinkled it the floor with detergent, and blasted it with the water hose. It took awhile to broom off the standing water, but shooting the floor, stucco ceiling, and screens with blasts from the water hose made everything smell so fresh.

There was still a little bit of standing water on the porch so I got out my little Mint robot, "Cindy" (short for Cinderella) and had her mop up the rest. The result is a really nice and clean floor on the porch.

I then went to the decks and washed them off. We have two small ones that are at two of our doors and one larger one that is outside our dining room and patio doors. I was amazed at the difference rinsing them off with the water hose did.

Next, I went to the patio area at the West side of the house. We like to sit there in pretty weather and watch the sun set over the prairie. Our little family had labored many hours in making the patio with a concrete form that shaped the concrete into what is supposed to look like rocks. We didn't get it all that level, so dirt collects in the low spots. We should redo it, but I can still see my teen aged sons and hubby as they work on this. (I helped, too. Stop laughing....I really did!)

We have buffalo grass and I am so grateful. It is sturdy stuff that doesn't die when there is a drought. However, even the buffalo grass is looking like it is on its last legs. I decided that I had to water it after I made sure all the trees were watered.

People from other places do not think I have many trees, but they haven't had to water them. We have somewhere between 60 to 80. Our cedar windbreak is looking pretty bad. There are many dead limbs. I am desperate to save those trees because they are our privacy for the swimming pool. (One of those above ground kind with the blow up ring. We have a terrible time getting the ph right on it, but that is another story.)

I know we live in the country, but a neighbor owns a roping arena next to our house and pool...Sometimes they go out there to practice calf roping or to plow it up. (makes a nice dusty mess for my screened in porch) I can stay in the pool because of those trees. Without them...I would be inside.

By the time everything was washed up with the water hose and the sprinkler set...I was pooped. There is no way my yard will compare to my sweet sister's, but I was happy for the hope I have for the coming seasons. I love to take good care of the things God has given us.

We have been working on the laundry room. Terry laid a new floor and I have been painting some. My biggest struggle has been with removing the wallpaper border. Grrr.

Nothing is more motivating than watching a marathon of "Hoarders" on television. lol Terry was okay with getting rid of some of my excess, but not very inspired about looking over his stuff. I think all of us are a little like this aren't we?

Right now, I have a half-painted laundry room, a bunch of boxes of things to donate and only a pocket full of energy to complete everything. I will keep you posted!

One Author's Journey #6

2013-05-04T08:00:00.000-05:00

If my dad were alive today, he would be 104. When he was a small boy (There is a dispute in the family as to exactly how small he was.) he was asleep in the back of a wagon. His family did not own an automobile at this time so they were using horses and wagons to move from Kansas to Oklahoma. As he slept, he rolled off the tailgate of the wagon and landed in the tall grasses or the prairie. He hit his head and was knocked out for some time. When he came to himself, the wagon was just disappearing down a dip in the flat land. He followed the trail the wagon wheels made from denting the grass until he reached the camp of his family. They had not missed him because they were occupied with the livestock and gathering cowchips for fuel for the cooking fire.

This story always scared me when my mother recited it at family gatherings. The grass was as tall as my dad was. She said that many children were lost forever in the old days because of situations similar to this. Because of the danger and family connection, I had to use this story in my sixth book, Some Happy Day, Book I of the series, Rescued...a Series of Hope.

I changed the story to me a baby girl who was around fourteen months old. A cowboy who was running from the law found her in the tall grass. She was not old enough to even tell him her name. The story grew from this.

As I worked on this book, I found myself even more engrossed in marketing all the books I had written. I am so thankful for the authors who have written great marketing books as well as for those who have befriended me an helped me hammer out a good marketing plan. I have discovered many kind and generous friends within the 'author community'. It is a pleasure to network with people who do not feel that we are in competition.

Rescued...a Series of Hope is a series that is still in progress. It intersects the books in the Nan's Heritage Series. There were nine girls who were rescued from a bad situation. This series details each girl's life before, during, and after their kidnapping. It as been interesting how ideas in these story lines have developed. I think a lot of the situations and challenges the characters face come from the old timey stories my mother and daddy told us. They also had friends who loved to tell about their lives. I am thankful for the time my parents invested in me.

I had tackled one of the rescued girls in this book. The next book had to follow two of the others. The setting was close to home, so I had to get it right. I will attempt to tackle the job of telling you about those challenges next week.

Elaine Littau

One Author's Journey #5

2013-04-27T08:00:00.000-05:00

All of the books I write reflect things from my life. It was time to write book #5, Timothy’s Home. Someone recommended a wonderful book for writer for me called The Art of War for Fiction Writers. There are a lot of exercises to hone writing skills in this book. One of them went like this (more or less):

Suppose there is a truck driver driving really fast down the highway. (Are you thinking of a hairy guy right now?

Now, the truck driver is a woman. (Tough gal?)

What if she is in a wedding dress or a formal and in full makeup?

When I read this, I searched my mind for how to apply this to a book set in the 1800s. What were the ‘trucks’ then? Who would be my victim-woman driving? After a brief period of contemplation, I decided that the biggest of the ‘big rigs’ of that time had to be the Twenty Mule Team. That thought took me down a road I had travelled fifty years before.

I was three and my nephew was five. We were inseparable and usually into some kind of trouble. Of course, wasn’t most of it the nephew’s fault? (That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.) Anyway, my fifteen year old brother had a magnificent model of the Twenty Mule Team Borax. Somehow, the reins got all twisted up and it was destroyed. For fifty years my brother was a little bitter about this. Once in a while he mentioned that he saw one at an antique store or on eBay. This niggled at my mind a lot.

One summer we were in Denver and visiting our oldest son’s in-laws. The grandfather showed us the house he had built. In the basement there was a twenty Mule Team Borax model. I was so excited and remarked that I needed to find one for my brother. Our son’s father-in-law said he had one he would send to me. The problem was that it needed to be put together. I told him I thought that would be fine.

A couple of weeks later I got a really small package in the mail. It was half the size of a shoebox. I couldn’t guess what it was. When I opened it, I almost cried. It was a model ready to be put together. Even the mules came in two pieces. I had never put together a model in my life, so I called my brother and told him I found a model. He said that he would appreciate it if I would put it together for him. (?)

I begged Terry to help me put the thing together. He gave me one whole day. He put together all twenty mules. The wagons were detailed and there were even little men that went with it. Terry also routed a pretty board and put the recommended finish nails every so many inches to hold the mules in place. The day was over and I was on my own.

There were documents in with the model and when I studied the instructions, I found some interesting facts about the twenty mule teams and how they worked. After reading the short study there, I looked up a lot of things on the internet. It was very interesting. While I painted and distressed the wagons and put everything together for a few weeks, I contemplated the lives of the people who worked on these wagons.

Some of the plot of Timothy’s Home unfolded there on my dining room table. When I finished the model, I wrote the book and felt blessed that I could share the wealth of information I had learned and not let it go to waste. As it happened, we went to New Mexico to see my brother and present him with the finished product. It was fifty years late, but he was touched by my efforts. I love my brother so much. It was worth the time and effort to see the look on his face that day.

The next book was a glimpse into my dad’s life. (He was born in 1909)

One Author's Journey #4

2013-04-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

Book III was going through the last stages before its release date when I came upon a writing challenge on the internet. It was called the “National Novel Writing Challenge”. I clicked on the link and read about it and was floored when I discovered the challenge was to write a book with 50,000 words or more in one month. The month was November.

NOVEMBER, the words stuck out like a knife. That is the month we have family over for Thanksgiving, there are at least two craft/book shows, and I spend days cooking and preparing the house for a lot of company. How on earth could I commit to doing something like this?

I don’t know why, but I did it. I had never self-published and thought this would be a good exercise in writing discipline. I would learn how to juggle life with my writing. Up to this point, I let my life revolve around marketing and writing. This was a test and only a test…or so I thought.

In Luke’s Legacy, Book III of the Nan’s Heritage Series, there was a “walk on character” who had a lot of personality. Sheriff Roy Miller met her on a train. She was a mail order bride. The man who ordered her sent her away and didn’t marry her. I decided to write her story for the November NaNoWriMo challenge.

The Eyes of a Stranger addressed some of my fears of being rejected. Gertie, the main character had faced rejection all of her life and she didn’t understand why until she left home only to be rejected once more. I contemplated the thought process of a mail order bride. She was the precursor to the email bride of today. One day I was visiting with my sister and we were talking about mail order brides. I told her that I would be in the ‘return’ file on my way back home.

When she was introduced in Book III, we find that the good Sheriff had a friend in Denver. Gertie was to go and find him to secure employment as a nanny or housekeeper. I began the story with her life at home and how she came to be a mail order bride. Then she had conversation with Sheriff Roy and built the story from what was laid out there.

What was Roy’s friend like? Would he help her? Where would she live? Where would she work? Those days were difficult for a woman on her own. There were few women in the workplace. Most were married off very young. Gertie was past her prime marriage years. She feared she would be an old maid. Those were the things that tossed around in my mind in this book.

It was fun to write this on the challenge. NaNoWriMo urges the writer to only write and not correct or edit as they go. That gave freedom to throw caution to the wind. Editing and processing the story came in December, January and on. I was very pleased to meet the challenge that year. My readers were happy to have two new books within one year to read. I learned a lot about moving with the storyline and letting the story run. It was delightful.

It did seem that I was writing all the time, but I still had a great time doing all the scheduled things. I think that book taught me how to live my life as a writer and not let the books boss me around. It would seem to be the opposite, but it wasn’t. I learned that if I write an average of 1670 words a day, I can get the rough draft completed in a month. I also learned that it is not necessary to get a rough draft completed in a month. It is alright if it takes two or three months. I learned that I must not forget to connect with those I love and meet new people. After it was all said and done, I had a new title, The Eyes of a Stranger. This book was not originally in the plan of the series, but after I wrote it, I knew it was an important element of it. The next move was to wrap up the series with one more book.

2013-04-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

One Author’s Journey

Elk’s Resolve, Book II in the Nan’s Heritage Series, seemed to fly from my mind, through my fingers, and onto the computer screen. I learned the importance of writing every day. Readers of the first book were ready as soon as the book was ready. Now, I just had to get word to them. I had a clip board that readers signed on my book table at the book events. If they were interested in being part of my “book club”, I sent them notice when the next book was ready to be sent to them via a postcard. This idea worked really well.

It amazed me more than anyone that I began my third book, Luke’s Legacy. Somehow, I actually became a writer. I wrote the first book because I heard the saying that everyone has a book inside of them. The second one was written because there were loose ends that needed tied up from the first one. Now, the third was a choice.

As a writer of Christian books, I believe it is important for each book to hold a message as well as to entertain the reader. As I write each book, I feel like I am in school and the Lord is teaching me things I need to work on in my own Christian walk. Nan’s Journey dealt with forgiveness while Elk’s Resolve was about overcoming depression and prejudice. God has no grandchildren was something Luke’s Legacy dealt with. As much as I wanted to make the decision for my children, it was clear that each person must choose for himself.

Portions of the book dealt with things children of Christians have expressed. Things like: “Mama is praying, so everything will be all right.” “I’ll get into heaven on Daddy’s coattails.” “I grew up in church. God knows me.” Sometimes I am afraid that those who have grown up so close to making a decision for Jesus, have a more difficult time realizing their need for Him.

While I was writing “Luke’s Legacy”, our brother in law almost died. He was one of the people who always came close to choosing God, but never felt he could. The doctors were working on his failing body and he felt his spirit leave the confines of flesh and bone. He walked through a door and found miles of desolation. He screamed out to God to save him. Immediately, he was back into his fleshly body of pain. He repented and asked the Lord to save his soul.

After he began recovering, he spent a lot of time crying to his sweet wife about how much he didn’t deserve another chance. He was so grateful that God let him live so that he could get saved. John, my brother in law, spoke at churches and men’s groups all over the panhandle as well as every individual who would listen to him, about this experience. He wanted them to be ready to meet God when the time came.

John died about two years after this experience. I asked if I could include a version of his vision/experience in Luke’s Legacy. I think the inclusion of that portion is why some readers have tagged it as “paranormal”. It was not. John was a changed man after that. He was not one who had dreams or experiences like that otherwise. He was very shy and his proclamation of his experience was surprising to everyone who knew him. He was wonderful and we all miss him.

God has no grandchildren. You cannot be let into the kingdom of God by default. It is a personal decision. Period. I think that portion of the book is the whole reason the Lord led me to write it. I thought my writing journey was over with that title. Little did I know, it had just begun.

My Author Journey

2013-04-06T09:33:00.001-05:00

One Author’s Journey

While the first title, Nan’s Journey, was going through the publishing hoops, my husband urged me to write the next book in the series. I hadn’t thought much about writing other books. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end every time someone called me ‘author’. I simply couldn’t believe they were referring to me. I had the feeling that someone would pull back the curtain and find out the ‘author’ was only me.

Book II of the Nan’s Heritage Series seemed to fly off the laptop compared to the seven or so years it took to write Book I. I believe the first book took so long because I never thought it was something that would be published. With Elk’s Resolve, I had a little momentum going. Every day my husband asked me if I had written that day. That was a lot of pressure for me because I hadn’t gotten into the rhythm of being a writer. Being accountable to him was what I needed to get the book done. I also wrote furiously because I was afraid I would lose my nerve.

One lazy afternoon while I was napping, the phone rang. It was the marketing representative from my publisher. He told me Nan’s Journey was ready and asked me how many copies I wanted to order. He asked a lot of questions and my mind was officially blown. I heard terms I had never thought of before: push cards, promotional items, press release…

He could tell I was lost, so he recommended a book for me to read. It was Amen by Leon Mentzer. It was a book about publishing and marketing for the beginning author. I ordered it, some push cards, book marks, posters, and fifty books. He told me not to give any books to friends and relatives. I didn’t listen. I was afraid if I didn’t give the books to them, I would be stuck with them.

The books arrived. I opened the box and cried when I saw them. My heart was within those pages. Would anyone like it? The marketing book was in the box as well. I dove into it and cried when I read it. I realized I really didn’t know what I was doing. I thought I would be at my computer writing and the books would sell themselves. That’s what I had learned from movies I had watched. I had just watched a movie where a poor boy wrote a book and immediately was rich. In fact, my husband had a list of things we were going to do with ‘all that money’. One funny thing I remember from those first ‘author’ days was my first time I went to the post office to pick up the mail for my paying job. I honestly wondered if people would approach me and think I was famous. Nope, I was still just me. I guess they never did get the memo that I was something special. I just have to laugh about that.

Leon’s book gave me a dose of reality from which I still haven’t recovered. One fact was that most authors never sell more than ninety-nine copies. Thank the Lord; my books have done better than that. There were ideas to get the word out and I marked up that book and attempted to put the suggestions into practice. I contacted him and he became my first book mentor. I will always feel blessed that he gave me good direction in those first months.

Some orders came in from people who had heard about me and I took them to the window of the post office. The clerk was a sweet lady and I had given her a book. She started talking to me about the characters in the book as if they were real people. I remember being shocked that she knew ‘my people’. I felt exposed. This woman knew the thoughts in my heart. I don’t know what I had expected. It did make me realize that I needed to be careful with those words I write because people were reading.

March Madness

2013-03-07T10:23:00.001-06:00

Nope, this isn't about basketball. March 1st is our wedding anniversary. Terry and I have been married 38 years. I could tell you that they have all be bliss, but you would rightfully be able to call me a liar.

While all days have not been moonlight and roses, there has been a certain underlying joy in the years we have spent together. We struggled through the first few years while we were getting used to thinking of someone other than ourselves. We were 19 & 18 years old and, as you know, teenagers are notorious for being self-centered.

I wish I could say that at our 50+ years, the self-centered stuff had ceased, but that would not be the truth. What I can say is that after all these years together, my sweet husband has taught me to not take everything so seriously.

People who know me now would have a difficult time believing how deadly serious I was when Terry married me. I thought I had to be so that people would think I was a grown up. I didn't give myself or anyone else very much slack. Terry taught me how to laugh at circumstances our of my control. He taught me to see the humor behind almost everything that happens. His favorite saying is: "We are going to have so much fun growing up together." He still says that to the grands.

Our grandson, Zach, used to call him "Grandhappy" instead of Grandpappy. The happy part is a good fit for him. Of course, we have had some very sad days when some of our loved ones passed away, but the overlying atmosphere of our life together has been a deepening joy.

We still have our conflicts. In fact, we might call this month 'March madness' for a reason. The truth is that I am still madly in love with that man.

2012-12-04T11:02:00.002-06:00

December Treats!!! Got lots of free or inexpensive ebooks ($.99) on Amazon.com on December 4-8
Go to http://decembertreats.blogspot.com to look at the titles offered.

Also

The Kindle version of Some Happy Day will be free on Dec 6 & 7, 2012 at
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=some+happy+day

Go to my website to get information on how to win the Christmas Kindle I am giving away. There is a tab at the bottom left that gives instructions. It is like a scavenger hunt. You will have a good chance of winning, so join in. http://elainelittau.com . That is the link. Go and see how your name can be in the drawing.

Chairs

2012-11-07T18:35:00.002-06:00

Chairs

There is an ongoing dispute between me and chairs. When I was a little kid of 4 years old Mama, Daddy and I had this old swivel rocker that was a problem. It seemed that every time I sat in the thing, it went backwards with me. It was quite the ordeal to get the thing set back to rights.

I remember that I had a very important job that involved that chair. If a guest came to our house, it was my job to hurriedly be rude and take the chair that looked to be the most comfortable in the house. Most of the time I did pretty well at occupying that chair while guests visited.

One time, when I was around ten years old, about 1966, our new pastor came to visit us. He was a very proper man. He was a painter when he wasn’t behind the pulpit. He wore a severe black suit with pants about an inch or so too short. He wore shiny black dress shoes, horn-rimmed glasses, a white shirt, and white socks.

His knock sounded on the door and I opened it. He walked though quickly and spied the swivel rocker. He folded his lanky frame into it and sat with his elbows on his knees.

Good. If he stays like that, he won’t fall backwards.

Sure enough, after he made the point in his conversation, (I wasn’t listening. I was worrying.) He stretched back and before Mama and I realized what happened, his legs were pointed to the ceiling. He flipped the chair backwards. His white socks and shins shined as bright as mayonnaise.

Mama looked at me and frowned. I knew I missed my assignment that day. Each of us took one of his hands and pulled him and the chair to an upright position.

I don’t know why, but it was years later before Mama and Daddy replaced that chair with a Lazy Boy Recliner. I can’t tell you how glad I was for that purchase.

That wasn’t the end to my chair problems. In 1975 Terry and I got married and bought a brand new Great Lakes mobile home. It was beautiful! Being built in the Spanish style of the day, it had dark brown paneling on every wall except one wall in the living room. That wall had off-white paneling with two wrought-iron keys that were about two feet high. We had red velvet chairs and matching couch trimmed with black vinyl around the edges and buttons. We had a big red glass based lamp with a big red velvet shade trimmed in black lace.

Our dining room/kitchen was awesome in that it had a rectangle table with wrought-iron swivel based velvet dining room chairs. Those things were heavy duty. To top it off, we had a black metal chandelier. We knew we were rich!

As the years progressed in living in the trailer house, things sort of started to happen to the furniture. If you weren’t careful in sitting on the couch, a spring might grab the calf of you leg and bite you. When this happened to me, I got out the cutting pliers and cut off a length of it and forgot it.

One day a friend of mine came over to visit Terry and me and sat on that couch. The girl sat down carefully and the man plopped down quickly. Before I knew what happened, the spring came out and grabbed his pant leg along with a piece of his calf. We apologized and offered them alternate seating.

After they left, Terry turned the couch over and clipped the spring out. It was three years later that we moved from the trailer and left the furniture behind for the renters to use.

One year, not long ago, probably about 2010, we purchased a cheap chair and a half recliner. Our kids like to sit side by side or on one another’s lap, so I thought it would be a good thing. The thing wasn’t so good. During a Christmas visit, I walk into the living room to find my son and daughter-in-law in the recliner with their feet reaching toward the ceiling.

The story my son told me was that they lifted the foot rest and when they were ready to get out of the chair, it wouldn’t budge. They thought that if they rocked it a little, the catch would release and they could get out. They rocked it a little and the back went down further and got top heavy. The recliner flipped on its back.

The reason they were stuck in the recliner is that it is nestled in the corner of the room. There was no room to get out the side. With the help of a couple of brothers rescue mission, they were freed.

How lame was that! I thought. Not but a month later I was sitting in that big old chair and did the exact same thing. My head was wedged in the corner of the room between the bookcase and wall. My feet were sticking straight up. The left arm of the recliner was wedged next to a glass front bookcase. The right arm had a glass topped table next to it. There was no place to go.

I had my zip up robe on because it was nine A.M. and I reached into my pocket. I dialed Terry and asked him how his day was going. I then asked him what time he thought he would make it home. He said it would be around eight P.M. I said okay and hung up. (You wonder why I didn’t tell him, don’t you? Well, I didn’t want him to know about it and laugh at me.)

Since I seldom have drop in visitors, I knew it was up to me to get out of this situation. I threw my legs up over my head, fuzzy slippers and all, and somehow twisted myself into a knot. I was afraid I might break some of the glass, so I was a tight little ball. I ended up sideways in the chair and figured that if I stood on the back of it, I could climb over it. (I tell you it was truly wedged!) I climbed over it and got myself a cup of coffee.

Not long after that, the church women’s group needed donations for their garage sale. You can guess what I put a price of $5 on. I think they sold it for $3. I decided after I got rid of that one, I would get quality all the way.

Marathon Cooking

2012-10-28T14:06:00.001-05:00

I love looking at blogs and getting advise from sites like examiner and pinterest. On one of these sessions I found a blog about preparing food ahead. It was different than most of the advise from blogs like it because the writer also included a shopping list as well as the receipes and order of cooking.
After a two hour trip to the grocery store (Thank God I had the strength that day.) I had a mountain of groceries to do something with! I almost cried. The notebook of instructions for this marathon cooking spree was on the table, so I proceeded to #1.
Get a piece of paper and note the servings you are making. How many twice baked potato servings are you bagging, the number of meat packs you are dividing out. You will use this information to write your menu on your calendar. Yes, you have to write down what you are going to have for dinner on the calendar. If you rely on yourself to do this day by day, you will forget what you have already used and what is available to use. If you write the meals down after they are cooked, you can plan your menus for a month or two and not have to think of "whats for dinner". If something comes up or you go out to eat, just draw a mark through that dinner and put it after the last date that has a menu. WARNING: MARK ALL OF THE FOOD YOU PUT IN THE FREEZER! The food plays trick or treat with you if you don't. I want to know what I am thawing out for dinner.
I put the perishable groceries in the frig and commenced. Filling my large sink with warm water, I poured 18 pounds of fairly large (not the baking size) potatoes in for a quick wash. I set aside 3 lbs for other dishes and put the rest in a 350 degree oven timed at 1 hr 30 min. (I didn't wrap the potatoes because I wanted crispy skin for the twice baked potatoes these would become. (I found it interesting that cooking 1 baked potato takes as long as baking 15 pounds...hmmmm)
After getting the potatoes going, I opened a small bag of pinto beans and poured them in a crock pot with half a piece of salt pork. I filled the slow cooker with water and plugged it in on high. These beans would be done after all the other things were cooked. One of my hispanic friends advised me not to salt the beans until they are almost finished. (I can't remember the reason, but she was very serious about it so I don't salt them until the end.)
I also put some northern white beans (a small bag) in a slow cooker with the other half of salt pork and covered with water and set it on high also. This is for the white chicken chili I will be making later.
Ground beef was next. I purchased 8 pounds. The hubs likes 90% or higher for our health, but I am a penny pincher and bought both 93% and 86% and mixed them together. I told him that it averaged out to 90%. I don't know for sure, but it is close enough.
I put the ground meat aside and chopped 8 onions and 6 bell peppers. 3 onions and 2 bell peppers were set aside for other recipes. I got a big frying pan out and put half the onions and bell peppers in and stir fried them. After that, I added the ground beef, a small can of jalepeno peppers, a tsp of chili powder, salt, pepper, minced garlic, (and other spices you like in Tex/Mex food). I stirred it over medium heat until all the meat was browned. I divided the mixture into quart sized bags that had the amount I need for the hubs and I. If you have a big family, you will need to adjust the amount you put in each bag. Tag them: Use for Tex/Mex dishes. Leave these bags on your counter until they cool off. It is terribly hard on your freezer and frig to put hot stuff in them.
Using the same pan, I put the rest of the onions and bell peppers in the skillet and added the beef, salt, and pepper. This will be a plainer mix that will be used for spaghetti, lasagna, and other dishes that require a meat mix. Divide,bag, and tag for your use. Set aside to cool. After things cool, put them in the freezer.
At this point, I take the remaining ground beef and form into patties, placing them on a cookie sheet. I put the cookie sheet in the freezer for about 20 min. After that time, the patties are semi frozen and can be placed in quart sized bags. The hubs and I use 3 patties at each meal. He has 2 hamburgers and I have 1....Divide according to your family.
If you have set aside any ground beef for a special recipe, put those recipes together at this point. (millionaire spaghetti...so good...look it up on pinterest)
After cleaning up the ground beef mess, I get out the steaks and roast that I purchased after the heart attack I had looking at the high prices. (I kid you not!) I divide the steaks according to what the hubs and I eat. The portions are a little smaller than we want to eat, but I am sort of looking out for our health here. I bag them up, mark them, and put them in the freezer.
Then I grab that lovely roast. If I am not planning for a dinner with friends, I divide it. I swear my hubs loves roast so much, he would eat the whole thing. (He isn't overweight...I wonder why. I am and I am the only one who thinks about these things in our house.) I grab some carrots (washed, peeled, and quartered), onions (chopped), a can of cream of mushroom soup, and an envelope of dried onion soup mix. I put all of it in a big cooking bag, tag, and freeze.
Chicken is next. I usually purchase 3. 2 are whole chickens and one is cut up. (Unless the hubs is home to cut it up for me, I get it already cut into identifiable pieces..I blame it on the fibro, but I am just not good at it.) Anyway, put the cut up chicken into a bowl of milk or buttermilk. While the cut up chicken is soaking in milk, I get out two big pots and put a whole chicken in each, cover with water, use 1tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper (hubs and I like pepper), several carrots, half a stalk of celery in each pot, a chopped onion in each pot. Set them on the stove and get them to boil. Boil for an hour and half. Turn them over half way through. You want them to be done to the bone.
While the whole chickens are boiling get a large skillet and put 1/2 inch vegetable oil in it. Wait to turn on the heat. Grag a gallon size zip lock bag and put a cup of flour, salt, and pepper, and any other spices you like to fry your chicken with. One friend said that if you use self-rising flour to coat the chicken, it makes a lighter, crispy crust. I have done this and she is right. Anyway, put about 3 pieces of chicken in the bag and shake. After the chicken pieces are coated, place them in the skillet. Start the burner to medium. Take another 3 pieces and coat them and place them in the skillet. Do this until the skillet is full. Fry chicken at medium heat for 30 min and then turn each piece over and fry for another 20 min. Do not turn a lot unless you don't like there to be a crust.
Put the fried chicken pieces on a wire rack that has paper towels under it. After the chicken is cooled, place half in a bag tagged 'fried chicken'. Then put them in the freezer. One chicken makes 2 meals for the hubs and I.
After the chicken is done, check on the whole chickens that are boiling. They should be done to the bone. Take a knife and cut into the thigh and look at the bone. There shouldn't be any blood. If it is done, then you need to get some tupperware or glad type containers ready. Lift the chicken out of the pot and place on a platter or dish to cool. Use a sieve and pour the water from the pot, which is now a great chicken broth, into small plastic containers. You can use this anytime a recipe calls for chicken stock or broth. Throw the vegetables that are in the seive with the roast in the package after it cools off.
I usually buy 2 cans of salmon and make salmon cakes as an option for dinner. There are some really fancy recipes for this dish online, but I alway go back to my mama's. This is her recipe, more or less:
1 can salmon with juice, 1 egg, crushed saltines, salt and pepper. Mash together and make patties. I have added some chopped onion to this.Form into patties and place on a cookie sheet to freeze individually and then tag and bag.
The boiled chickens should be cool enough to debone. After I take the meat off the bone, I put the chicken pieces in the bowl of my kitchen aide mixer. I use the paddle attachment and it shreds the meat perfectly. I divide the chicken into dinner size servings. I reserve 2 cups for the white chicken chili. The rest, I tag and bag to be used for chicken enchiladad, chicken and noodles, and bbq chicken.
I get the white beans out and proceed to make the white chicken chili. Great recipes for this are on the internet and pinterest. After assembline all the ingredients, I cook them together for 30 min and then tag and place in dinner size containers.
While the kitchen is a mess, I stir together waffles from a mix. I get out my waffle iron and put the setting on the lightest one. These will be toaster waffles. The hubs says these are sooooo much better than the standard frozen waffles. By this time, I am tired...really tired, so I only make one batch. I set them aside to cool and tag and bag. '
I get out the 2 lb bag of bacon and fry it up. Some of it, I have cut into 1 inch pieces for dishes like spinach salad. I take the full sized bacon out and cool on a rack. I divide them into portions for the two of us and place them in bags. I take the bacon pieces and divide them into those silly tiny containers that come with the handy food storage kits. I pour the grease into these containers with the bits. Dishes like spinach salad , and old fashioned green beans require the grease. I freeze all of these.
After everything is in the freezer, I sit with my calendar and list of meals. Last time I spent $300 for groceries. The hubs almost had a heart attack....I had already stressed out about this. BUT AFTER I wrote down a meal on each day on the calendar, we had two and a half or more meals already taken care of. That is really good for us. I am thinking it is a really big savings because every trip to the grocery store costs more than we ever expect because of the other items we purchase while we are there.

I can't tell you how great it feels to know that I am taking care of my family even while I am sick. Today was one of those days. I couldn't stand and make fried chicken for my husband, but I could reach into the freezer and get the chicken and oven fries that I already prepared when I felt better and put it on the counter for him to heat in the microwave for dinner. That means a lot to me.

Minced garlic - in jar
8 onions
6 bell peppers
several jaleneno peppers
fresh baby spinach (for the spinach salad)
16 pounds of large (not baking) potatoes (You can use baking potatoes, but I don't)
1 small to medium bag of carrots - (for roast and chicken stock)
1 bunch celery (for roast and chicken stock as well as to munch on raw while I cook)
salsa (We use Pace picante sauce)
BBQ sauce (I use mesquite in the cheapest bottle. Use what you like best.)
2 or 3 envelopes of taco seasoning
1 small bag pinto beans
1 small bag white beans
2 or 3 cream cheese - 8 oz(for the twice baked potatoes & other recipes)
shredded cheddar cheese and mexican mix cheese - lg bag
1/2 - 1 pound salt pork (for beans)
sour cream
milk
eggs
butter - a pound or two
steaks- however many you can afford and the kind you like to cook. You will just be separating these into the amount you will use for one meal. I purchase those that are grouped together and on sale.
roast- 1 or 2
8 pounds hamburger (2 lbs for patties, 2 lbs for meatloaves, 4 lbs for meat mixture for tacos, spaghetti sause, nachos, etc)
1 cut up chicken (or more depending on how much your family uses for a meal. One works for 2 meals for the hubs and I.)
2 whole chickens (to boil for chicken broth, and shredded chicken packets)
2 pounds bacon (to make bacon bits and also to separate out for meals)
2 cornbread mixes (I use Jiffy, but some of you may use cornmeal and assemble it all yourselves. Jiffy is super easy. It is up to you.)
1 box quick oats (for meatloaves)
1 box saltine crackers (for salmon cakes)
brown sugar
pancake/waffle mix
powdered sugar
granulated sugar
all purpose flour
self-rising flour (in case you want to try coating your chicken in it to fry)
2 cake mixes (white or yellow)
1 angel food cake mix (I am going to try that recipe on pinterest where you use an angel food cake mix and dump in a can of crushed pineapples with juice and bake. It sounds good. Look it up to be sure I got it right.)
vinegar (for the fresh spinach salad)
canned goods:
1 crushed pineapple
1 sliced pineapple (for pineapple upside down cake you will make with one of the cake mixes and divide up into meal sized portions)
1 or 2 diced tomatoes 8 oz cans
1 or 2 diced jalepeno peppers 8 oz cans (for tex/mex meat mix)
2 cans salmon (I use the pink because it is cheaper for salmon cakes)
2 large cans of cream of mushroom soup (1 for each roast and 1 for the chicken chili)
white corn (for white chicken chili)
frozen fruit for the fruit dump cake (1 white or yellow cake mix sprinkled over a package of frozen fruit with a can of sprite poured over the top and baked at 350 degrees for 30 min - divide into servings for several meals)
frozen broccoli - for vegetable chowder or vegetable soup (recipe is on pinterest)
1 can sprite
foil
gallon sized zip lock bags
quart sized zip lock bags
cling wrap
freezer containers
The last time I made these purchases, it was over $300. I was able to make meals for 2 for almost 3 months, give or take a day. I didn't include recipes because we all have our favorite ways of making dishes and also, I have to admit, I am a little lazy about doing it.
I have found a lot of freedom in doing cooking this way. Of course, the day I am cooking I am somewhat like Lucy in the chocolate factory, but the payoff is that I know what is for supper for weeks. I don't have to spend a lot of time in the kitchen for weeks...I am able to provide nourishing and tastey meals for us even when I am not feeling well. I am sure that you can adjust the list of food prepared to acomodate your food needs and concerns. This is just a blueprint. I tweaked the list that was on pinterest for the things we like to eat. You can do the same.
Happy eating and have fun on cooking day!

Interview with Barb Malek, author

2012-08-28T13:23:00.000-05:00

1. Your name, What is the title(s) of your book(s)? My name is Barb Malek and the title of my book is "Soft Like Steel" (hopefully just the first of many.)

2. What is your genre and why did you choose to write in this genre? The genre is a mix of narrative non-fiction and biography. I chose this because I wanted to tell my grandmother's story, but in order to bring it more alive I used a mix of narrative and historical fact. This way the reader sees the events through her eyes against a backdrop of the history of the times.

3. Is there a particular message you wish to transfer to your readers? I desire to inspire my readers with the message that there is always hope, even in the midst of the darkest situation. My grandfather came from a long line of families in which the fathers abandoned their children. By choosing to reject anger and bitterness and to cling to her faith, my grandmother broke that pattern with her family. I would love for her example to inspire others.

4. Did you find yourself researching information during the writing process? Yes, I did a lot of research for this book. First, I had to do a lot of digging into my family's history. We knew a lot about my grandmother's side, but not much about my grandfather. Fortunately, his extended family was able and willing to share key information with me. Secondly, I wanted to help my readers to understand the times in which my grandparents were living. I read a lot about the Dust Bowl, particularly in southern Nebraska; the sometimes dark history of my own community, Omaha, NE; and about life in the midwest during World War II.

5. Do you see yourself writing other types of books in the future? I loved the formula of taking one character in history and writing in a blend of narrative about their thoughts and emotions, placed against a background of historical facts. So, yes, I plan to do others. At present, I am researching my Mennonite history in France and Germany.

6. Do you speak to groups? If so, do you enjoy it? I have always loved speaking. I went to college on a speech scholarship, so it is one of my first loves. If I am passionate about the topic, it is a pure joy!

7. What have you found surprising since becoming a published author? I have been surprised by how much marketing I am expected to do, and how hard it is. I am not a pushy person, and resent others being pushy. So, I am trying to balance a low key approach with being effective.

8.Can you describe the day that you saw the first book you authored in your hands? It was amazing! It was the reality of a dream that I had, frankly, given up on. I will never forget it.

9. Is there any particular thing that you wish you had known before getting the book in your hands? Hmm... well maybe the difficult marketing road that lay ahead. I would have liked to have gotten more of a headstart than I got. However, maybe it was best I didn't know.

10. What was your favorite childhood toy? It was a box of paper dolls I made myself. I had a whole community, and I made up stories for them to act out. It was like my very own soap opera! What amazing adventures we had.