I have lots of good news this month. Within mere days of my last post, I found my lost pages from the French guy who turned into an Italian guy book. I hate to admit how I lost them, but I will. I changed the title of the book, then promptly forgot the title, so I couldn’t find where I’d saved it. Since I found my words, I spent two feverish weeks merging what I’d lost with what I’d written in the meantime 
and what I’d written years ago of his story. I don’t know if it works for everyone this way, but my initial words are my best. If I end up trying to rewrite, I lose something. I’m not saying my original words don’t need polishing, revisions, and editing, but they capture the story I’m trying convey best. I ended up scrapping several rewritten scenes. The result, I have 35,000 words now. And a lot of them are words I love that I thought were gone forever.
And then history repeated itself, I had to put my Italian guy aside. But for a very good reason, I heard back on a proposal I’d submitted late last year. I officially signed a contract for three more Love Inspired titles. Which means my nose is back to the grindstone with deadlines and books to be written and new releases probably starting next year. I’m ecstatic. It’s been a longer dry spell than I’ve ever had. Since I signed my first contract, I’ve consistently had two books released per year. But last year, only one. Several times since I initially got published in 2010, things have taken a downward spiral. My publishing line closed. Twice. My editor left and so on. In the
past, I cried and railed, thinking my career was over. And then watched how God fixed it. So this time, I didn’t cry and rail. But my thread of hope was beginning to fray. Until once again, God showed He had it all along.
More good news, even though my new series probably won’t release until next year, Love Inspired is repackaging my title, Reuniting with the Cowboy with Tina Radcliffe’s title, Rocky Mountain Sweetheart. So if reader’s haven’t tried Tina’s books or mine, here’s their chance to get a two in one titled, Sweetheart Reunion coming in May.
My final piece of good news, for now, I’m teaching at the Midsouth Christian Writer’s Conference in Collierville, Tennesee this weekend. I used to dread book reports or anything that required standing up in front of people to the point of nightmares. But something happened when I became a published author. I wanted to share what I’d learned, to try to help other writers who want it as badly as I did. So I love teaching at conferences and hanging out with other writers. People who get me, even more so than my family and closest friends. I always feel inspired at conferences and they’re just fun. Exhausting, but fun.
So with all this good news, I had to reward myself. Right? I’ve been a high heel shoe
fanatic forever. Since my mom finally let me get my first pair when I was fourteen. The jobs I had after my hairdressing years and before my stay at home mom years, were spent in a bank and corporate offices. Plus I’ve always attended church. So I need shoes. Lots of shoes. My philosophy is why wear black when you can wear red, or orange, or pink, or turquoise. In the last few years, I’ve had to surrender – three inches is my height limit. Lower is even better. Since I had several pair that are 3 1/2 inches, I’ve been working on weeding them out a few at a time. These three new pair will serve me nicely and they were all on sale. I’ll probably take the red and gold to the conference. You can’t tell in this picture above from a few years ago at the Christian Author’s Guild Conference in Georgia, but my shoes are white and black striped.
My rewards usually include books too. I bought my first Christian Writer’s Market Guide in 2002, I think. This little treasure lists all the publishers, what they’re looking for, what to send them, with who to address it to, and where. Since I have an agent, I really don’t need to buy it anymore. But I always do because it inspires me to see all those publishers looking for Christian books to publish. When I get my new copy each year, I take my old one to my local writer’s group and give it to someone I feel is really striving toward publication or whose writing has greatly improved recently.
I read the Melissa Tagg title last week while I was down with a nasty virus. I love her books. I also have the newest Denise Hunter and Becky Wade titles on pre-order. I may have went slightly overboard with my rewards, but it’s been a loooong time coming.
So tell me your good news? How do you reward yourself when you meet a goal? If you don’t it’s time to start. All comments will go in the drawing for a copy of Reuniting with the Cowboy. And remember the birthday bash is still going on too, so there’s lots of chances to win lots of books.
Award winning author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter writes contemporary Christian cowboy romance and has over a dozen published titles. A romance reader since her teens, she hopes to entertain Christian women and plant seeds in the non-believer’s heart as she demonstrates that love doesn’t conquer all—Jesus does. She gleans fodder for her fiction in rural Arkansas where she spent her teenage summers working the concession stand with her rodeo announcing dad and married a Texan who morphed into a pastor. In her spare time, she loves hanging out with her husband and son, flea marketing, and doing craft projects.
Wednesday I get my second round of ablation on my back, at least no am supposed to. Considering how bad the first half was to have done and how badly I have hurt since I am having second thoughts about going. Although my best friend is supposed to drive me and I have a feeling if I try to back out she will drag me there by force. I don’t usually have things to celebrate and if I try to plan anything big my plans tend to fall apart. Like after the first half I was going to go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Didn’t happen. Then I took that money to order something for myself and my daughter and now I think the website I ordered from was a scam. So I think I will stick with buying books since they don’t fall through.
You can always count on books, Cassandra. I hope your procedure goes well and you feel better. Prayers sent your way.
My rewards usually comes in form of food! Lol something sweet- chocolate, ice cream, pie.
Pie is always good, Laura. One of my writer friends and I have pie dates when anything good happens in our writing journeys. She finished a book and I got a contract, so we’re incorporating a pie day into our conference trip.
Hi Shannon, congratulations:) God always comes through doesn’t He?:) How cool that you get to share your experiences with others at a conference.
Shannon, I love shoes as well! We do not wear shoes inside, so have shoe racks just inside- a friend entered our house and commented that it was like a shoe shop!!! I work as a high school teacher, so am standing on my feet all day- so I insist on comfortable, fun shoes. To reward myself- books, maybe something new to wear….
Blessings:)
I don’t wear shoes inside either, Wemble. I had a family gathering at my house not too long ago. It was a warm day, so I was barefoot. My uncle commented on it and I said I’m the barefoot hostess.
Hi Shannon! My main reward is time to myself, books, and chocolate. Best wishes. Wishing for sunshine and warm weather.
Hi Renate. Books and chocolate area always a good idea. I’m a rare bird. I like winter. Of course I’m in the south, I might not like it in the north. But I hate summer because it’s humid where I live. Spring is okay, but it just means summer is coming to me. Fall is my favorite.
Congratulations on the new contract! My reward is always reading time!❤️❤️❤️
Thanks Paula. I wish I had more time to read. But I do reward myself with books often.
Congrats! I usually reward myself with cheesecake but since I want to lose weight, I should pick something else.
I love cheesecake, Toni. Yum. I may end up being hungry for the day.
I can totally relate to falling into disappointment or stress over a situation only to have God prove Himself faithful AGAIN. Maybe someday I’ll learn… I don’t usually reward myself for something good but I know it would be a good practice to start!
Hey Ellie, I started rewarding myself back when I was trying to get published and there were so many disappointments. One of the teachers at a writing conference I attended said to reward yourself when you send out a submission and when you get a positive sentence about your writing, even if it’s in a rejection letter. I’ve rewarded myself ever since and it helped keep me going.
Congratulations…..I am so happy for you! Will be looking forward to reading all your books! Reading in a quiet place is my goal!
Hey Jackie. Thanks. We have a separate living room and it has become my reading nook. I have a spot in my office too and my screened back porch. And I love reading in bed. Anywhere is pretty much good for me to read come to think of it.
Congratulations on all the wonderful blessings in your life. I also love shoes and I used to always wear heels. Mine have gotten lower also. Have a blessed day.
Hi Lucy. Thanks. I used to wear heels even if they hurt, squeezed my toes, nearly cut them off, whatever to church. Because I sat most of the time. But since I’m the preacher’s wife, I’m on my feet a lot. My shoes have gotten pretty comfy and low. If there’s a pressure point, I don’t buy them anymore.
I’ve never been a fan of high heels. I can remember when I was a kid begging my mom for my first pair. Finally, she gave in. I think I might have worn them twice. Way too uncomfortable for me. My heels have been 2″ or less since then. Now I don’t even wear those.
I reward myself whenever I finish a quilt. That’s not too often lately. I love to shop for fabric but I have such a stash of it that I try not to buy any more. But when I finish a quilt, I allow myself to buy more fabric as a reward.
I have a fabric stash too, Sherri. I make curtain toppers, comforters, bed ruffles, and bedspreads. My hat’s off to you on making quilts. I totally don’t do that. I don’t have the patience to cut up squares and then sew them back together. But I love quilts.
Congratulations on all your exciting news! It’s been so much fun watching your journey over the years. And I’m still rooting for your French / Italian guy. :D
I have more time in between deadlines, Brenda. So I’m planning to work on his story between books. You’re such a great cheerleader.
Congrats on the new contract but especially yay for your French/Italian guy! Losing the file that way sounds like something I would do. Can’t wait to meet him someday.
I’m not sure what it says about myself that I can’t think of how I celebrate things. Dinner out, I guess! It sure isn’t shoes. Most of the time I have the minimal amounts: one pair of dress shoes and one pair of dress sandals (moderate heels on both), sports sandals, hikers, slip-ons. Winter boots. I truly think that’s all the shoes I own…
I’m still planning to add to my Italian guy’s story between deadlines, Valerie. Dinner out is always good too. My husband and I have a favorite steak house and Italian place for celebrations.
Most of the rewards for the children have been food-related – ice cream or something special to celebrate occasions or accomplishments.
You can never go wrong with an ice cream sundae, MJSH. My favorite is caramel.
Congratulations! I love your shoes! And I really hope I get to meet your Italian guy someday. I usually reward myself with more books, of course! Sometimes I’ll go for sweets, but more often than not…..books!
Hey Candace, I will finish his story. He’s been in my head entirely too long.
Congratulations. I also feel that after something we should reward ourselves, even if it is something small. It really depends now on how much money I have on hand as to what I reward myself with. And if it is something a bit more expensive, I save up. Then party. LOL
I used to love heels also. I have given all of them away over time. I have to wear flat shoes or ones with a very small heel now.
I’ve given all my higher heels away, Lori. One year, the optimist club was gathering shoes and dresses for girls who couldn’t afford prom. I loaded them up. I have a rule when I buy a pair of shoes, I have to retire a worn out pair or give a pair I don’t wear away.
congrats on new contract! I reward myself with a new book or favorite meal when I met a goal
Both worthy rewards, Shelia.
Congratulations, Shannon on your new contract. I love shoes, too. :)
Thanks Lindi. I have a 3 1/2 inch pair in red and gold that I’m trying to find a good home for and I’m retiring a black suede pair that are scuffed to make room for the newbies.
I love shoes, too! But I reward myself with an e-book or two or three…
You can’t go wrong with shoes or books, Betty.
Congratulations! Sounds like you found your groove. I’m looking forward to reading these books. Thanks for the post!
Thanks Paula. I really did backflips for this one. My first proposal was rejected. I reworked it twice, but it was still a no go. I scrapped two books from the proposal and built two new ones around the one my editor liked. Then revised all three according to her requests and finally got the contract. Published doesn’t mean no more rejections.
I don’t generally reward myself for meeting goals. Mostly because my personality is such that I’d take any every day type of “achievement” and reward myself for it. Like going grocery shopping. We’d end up broke ??.
Too funny, Melynda. I’m the type to always buy stuff for everybody else but I never buy anything for me. But if I’m rewarding myself, I can do it.
Congratulations Shannon I always reward myself with a paper back book I love to read!
A gal after my own heart, Sarah. I like print books. The only ebooks I own are by my favorite authors and they don’t come in print. I don’t feel like I really own an eBook. I like having print copies lined up on my shelf where I can see the spines.
As a former French major, I am always up for a French guy, but the Italian guy would be fun too. I reward myself with purchases that aren’t practical– I tend to be very practical as a default. Some of my purchases make me smile out of association– oh that was when I got that job, that was when I had my son, etc.
I also love bright colors though I do usually stick to neutrals for shoes.
I do love the French language, Mandy. Probably because I know what a few words mean. I’m a practical shopper too and I enjoy things by good memories of what I bought them for too. Sounds like we have a lot in common.
Shannon, I haven’t read your books…yet…but I love Tina’s books – I’m on her ARC Team :)
Good news…I’m currently unemployed lol – yes – it’s good for our family. I’m a volleyball/track/piano/vocal/art “mom.” Meaning, I need time for all these after school activities with four kiddos.
Blessings in your writing!!!
I’ve met Tina at a writers conference, Natalya. She’s a sweetie. Congrats on getting to be a stay at home mom. The most important job of all. Sounds like you’ll be busy.
Congratulations and God’s blessings on all the great new happenings! I usually reward myself with a good book. I love reading.
Thanks Pam. I reward myself by reading a book after I meet a deadline. Besides enjoying and relaxing while I read, it helps me get the book I just wrote off my mind so I can concentrate on my next characters.
I bet that is stressful to have a dry spell. So glad for you that it all worked out in the end. Funny that you should mention Collierville; my husband was just talking about that area this afternoon. I visited there many years ago when I met a pen pal who lived in Memphis!
Hey Diana. Collierville is a nice place. My sister in law used to live there. We went one time many years ago and spent the night with her and visited the mall in Memphis with the carousel in it. That’s where we met the Italian guy who wanted to straight our hair that inspired my French turned Italian character.
How exciting. Congrats!
Also I like your rewards. ;) I haven’t thought about many ways to reward myself lately, I’ve mostly been living for my son and husband when I’m not working… and when I need to nap, or need a strong coffee, it’s because I need those or I won’t make it through the day. Shoes? Only buying another one when I really need…
And I definitely go with you on the colors, until the day I needed a black shoe and didn’t have one–not even flats. I remember getting my first black shirt when I was in college for an internship event that they needed us all to dress in black.. Today I’ve acquired a few black items in life, but I’m usually pairing them with something colorful.
Hey Priscila. Sounds like you need a reward. I have black shoes along with all my colors. I’m very fair and I don’t look good in black. It completely washes me out. If I wear a black top, I wear a colorful jacket. Red and teal are my go to colors.
Hi Shannon. I think we’re the same. My sister makes fun of me that even after 2 weeks at the beach, I’m still as white as paper. I don’t do black well, and I totally love red and teal — it goes well with my blond hair and fair complexion. (My first car was red and everyone said it was a great fit.)
I actually happen to have 4 red shoes (I even had red snickers at some point growing up), and now I actually have 1 black flat and 1 with heels, but that was a necessity for job interviews that were conservative. I’m usually the one in the family with red everything and people know that they will give me a present I like if it’s red (which is why I ended up with 4 red shoes and forbid my mom to give me a 5th one, not that I don’t love them, I just like other colors too).
We sound very much alike, Priscila. I do all the colors in sandals too, so I have about 12 pair of pretty sandals. I don’t know if you have Payless Shoe Source where you live, but it’s been one of my favorite stores. They’re going out of business and I’m SO SAD!!!!
My reward is usually something sweet like chocolate!
Yum. Smart girl, Kerri!
Congrats! The best reward is more great books of course!
Agreed, Susanne!
Congrats on signing your new contract! I usually reward myself by taking the time to do something fun.
Thanks Jessica. Fun is always a good idea. I love to play putt putt. I stink at it, but it’s fun. We used to go a lot when our son was smaller. Maybe I’ll make them go with me before it gets too hot.