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A Vlog About Writing (Because I didn’t feel like writing it)…Is that weird?
I don’t post these types of videos very often here on my blog as I do on social media. Earlier, I thought about going LIVE on Instagram, but then decided to just post a video about the writing and editing process. If you enjoy talking about writing and interacting as a writer, follow me on Instagram at stephanieverniwrites or on TikTok at stephanieverniwrites, and I’ll be sure to follow you back. 🙂 I’ve always been fascinated by how other writers works. Do they plot? Do they write as they go along? What’s their editing process? Believe me…over the years, I’ve listened to and heeded the advice of many talented writers.…
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The Magic of Miracles
Forewarning: this one’s about God and miracles and the divine. It’s kind of personal. If it’s not for you, no worries. But since it’s about my interpretation of these quotes, I’ll continue… This week’s quote comes from G.K. Chesterton and is as follows: The most incredible thing about miracles is that they happen. G.K. Chesterton Perhaps it’s because I have committed to Bible in a Year with Father Mike Schmitz on the Hallow app and am moving along with it in awe, but whoa, there’s a lot to take in. It’s completely enlightening. I’m glad I’ve made this commitment. My children went to Catholic school in their elementary years, and…
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Stop Glorifying “Perfect”
In our attempts to be perfect we are missing a lot of the little joys that come along with the exercise of "going for it." Some of the best stuff happens along the way.
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Beauty + Joy
Today’s quote as pulled from my box is this: Beauty is whatever gives joy.Hugh Nibley One of the best things we did over the Christmas season was to attend our church’s Festival of Lessons and Carols. It was held the Friday before New Year’s Eve and consisted of 9 scripture readings and 9 carols. The service lasted one hour and took place in a beautifully decorated church filled with Christmas spirit and love. It was incredibly moving. The choir lifted the church with its voices, and the use of the handheld bells added to the Christmas spirit. There were a few songs that the choir performed and many others in…
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Delight in the Little Things
Today’s card is a very simple, yet poignant quote from Rudyard Kipling, British short-story writer, novelist, poet, journalist, probably best known for his collection of stories in The Jungle Book and his poem Gunga Din. The quote reads: Delight in the little things. – Rudyard Kipling I can’t help but harken back to my younger days, when I was a child growing up in Bowie, Maryland. We lived in our ranch on Pointer Ridge Drive until I was 13 years old. What we learn as children can often inform our lives as we grow and age and work and then retire. The truth is, compared to now, life was simpler…
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Living and Learning in the New Year
In 2023, I plan on sharing these quotes and writing impressions and thoughts about them, perhaps through a personal story or to provide inspiration. Anyway, that's the plan, readers. The first quote I pulled today is this one: Slow down and everything you are chasing will come around and catch you. - John De Paola
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It’s A Sad State of Affairs
I hate to end 2022 on a sort of melancholy note, but I can't help myself. Rarely, if ever, do I get preachy on my blog. Typically, I'm here to share news, light, personal stories, fictional writing, poetry, and my own uplifting insights. What will start on today's post as a downer, I hope will turn into something positive as we move forward into 2023.
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An End-of-Year Letter to Readers
Dear Readers, Today, I’m going to start with one of the highlights of the year, and it has been handwriting letters to readers. I’ve handwritten over 100 letters to readers thus far. Without a doubt, this has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of being an author, for without readers, we are lost. When I published The Letters in the Books in July, I knew I wanted to do a special promotion with an independent bookstore. (If you order through Amazon or B&N, there are no letters inside). As well, since the protagonist of my book, a bookstore owner, handwrites uplifting letters that she slips inside books, I wanted…
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I Believe the “New” Scrooge Would Adore this Collaboration
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The Irony & House of the Dragon
DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU ARE A FAN OF THE SHOW AND HAVEN’T WATCHED EPISODE 9 – I DON’T WANT TO SPOIL IT FOR YOU Princess Rhaenys is the heroine of Episode 9, but did she make a mistake? After being locked in her room while the Queen’s advisors secretly plot to have Aegon sit on the throne, throwing away the wishes of King Vicerys to have his daughter, Rhaenyra, named Queen and sit on the Iron Throne, Princess Rhaenys ascends her dragon and scares the living daylights of everyone during the coronation. But should she have done more? We all knew something was coming. You could feel it…
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Sorry, I Just Think It’s Weird—House of the Dragon, updates on a new book, a reunion & Italy
Thoughts on House of the Dragon’s Casting Last Sunday night on House of the Dragon, they replaced the two actresses who played Raenyra (Milly Alcock) and Alicent (Emily Carey) with two other actresses as ten years had passed between the previous episode and Sunday night’s. The switch was jarring—they didn’t look or act like the previous characters. I’m sorry, I just think it’s weird in today’s era of movie making that they would choose to do this—films age characters all the time. What’s even stranger is that Matt Smith who plays Daemon, continues in his role, looking no older than before despite the passage of 10 years. As well, Paddy…
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The Good Things (and people) That Come From Instagram
When I completed my MFA in Creative Writing in 2011, for years afterward I felt a void with regard to my writing and garnering input from fellow writers. I yearned to be in a writer’s group – a critique group – where likeminded authors shared their work and offered and received feedback. Two and a half years ago, I was invited into a group of fellow writers, people I’ve connected with through Instagram. I’ve been interacting with these women virtually since then, as we are writers from all over the United States, with one member in the United Kingdom. Not only are we all writers, but we are all published…
