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When I was a little girl, my sister and I used to have a “Countdown until Christmas” calendar posted on the refrigerator. Beginning the day after Thanksgiving, we’d mark off the days using a red magic marker. The time seemed to pass so slow, neither of us were known for our patience.
I’d like to say as an adult I’ve gotten better when it comes to waiting, but truthfully, I haven’t. I’m the person who’s always a half an hour early for appointments, meeting up with friends, or any occasion with a set time. What happens? I spend a great deal of time waiting.
Lately, I’ve been waiting to receive my book cover from Harlequin. I’m trying to remain patient and remember that everything happens in God’s timing.
While I wait, I thought I’d share the blurb for my first book, as well as a few photos similar to what I sent to Harlequin, to assist them with the cover design. The setting is a fictional town based in one of my favorite places, the Shenandoah Valley, located in western Virginia. The valley stretches 200 miles across the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains. These photos were taken by my friend, Dor, who lives in the valley.
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Second Chance Romance (Love Inspired)
Currently available for pre-order @ Amazon.com & BarnesandNoble.com
Jackson Daughtry’s jobs as a paramedic and part-owner of a local café keep him busy—but the single dad’s number one priority is raising his little girl with love and small-town values. And when his business partner’s hotshot lawyer niece comes to town planning to disrupt their lives by moving her aunt away, Jackson has to set Melanie Harper straight. When circumstances force them to work side by side in the coffee shop, Jackson slowly discovers what put the sadness in Melanie’s pretty brown eyes. Now it’ll take all his faith—and a hopeful five-year-old—to show the city gal that she’s already home.
Image Courtesy of http://countryliving4beginners.wordpress.com
I hope by next month, I’ll have a cover to show you, but if not, I’ll try and remain patient.
I’m curious, do you consider yourself a patient person?
**I’m at the day job today, so I’ll be around later to chat.**
By day, Jill Weatherholt works for the City of Charlotte. At night, and on the weekend, she writes contemporary stories about love, faith and forgiveness for Harlequin Love Inspired. Raised in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., she now resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, but her heart belongs to Virginia. She holds a degree in Psychology from George Mason University and Paralegal Studies Certification from Duke University. She shares her life with her real-life hero and number one supporter. Their relationship grew on the golf course, and now they have one in their backyard. Jill believes in enjoying every moment of this journey because God has everything under control.
Thanks for sharing the blurb, I’m sure the cover will be great! I am generally a patient person, but do struggle waiting for things like next book in a series/by fav author, summer to come…things like that:)
Greetings Jill and congrats on your first book. The Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge mountains are beautiful. Looking forward to seeing your cover. The photos are inspirational. My prayers are with the folks still flooded in the eastern part of North Carolina. I am not sure I would be patient having to watch the water slowly recede.
Through the hustle and bustle of life as daughter, mother, grandmother, pastor’s wife and teacher, I am a fairly patient person. Usually I need extra time to accomplish or plan my to do list. I am not always patient in traffic, especially when I am running late. Glad we no longer live in Chicago. But as stated above, in a catastrophe or medical problem, I am not a patient person. For example, when in April I broke my wrist – 5 weeks in a cast, then 5 weeks of physical therapy. Even now 6 months later, I would like my strength back. Patience is a virtue.
Best wishes as you wait for your new cover and first book. I think it is more difficult to be patient when something is the first – first child or grandchild, first major trip, etc. I am sure the cover and book will be worth the wait.
Oh, I am a sucker for second chances! Thanks so much for sharing the blurb! I have no doubt your cover will be perfect, and will come at just the right time, even if it is hard to wait for that time. I’ve always thought I was rather patient, sometimes because I simply didn’t want to expend the effort needed to be more ambitious! I do strive to be patient for other folks too though, and I feel that that is often a gift!
I am not a patient person and I too am usually always early for appointments and what not but that is more about hating to waste other people’s time and how they would think of me if I was late. Yea my self esteem is low enough that even someone being annoyed with me for being late is something to fear for me. But yeah I struggle with the whole in His time not mine thing. Especially when it comes to fixing things or healing from physical or mental problems for my daughter or myself or my friends or family. It is like OK I KNOW You can fix this so fix it already!
I’m excited for you, Jill! I know one day very soon that “Cover Coming Soon/No Image Available” will be replaced with your lovely cover on Amazon (and other websites where it’s sold). :) I used to have a little sign hanging above my kitchen window in Massachusetts that summed it up well. It read, “Lord, grant me patience, but hurry!” The way time is flying, your book will be in the hands of readers before you know it! Blessings.
I’m fairly impatient – especially while driving. =/ In other life situations, one of my favorite passages is Lamentations 3:25-26 where Jeremiah says, “The Lord is good to those that wait for Him,” and “It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.” Sometimes waiting is mandatory, but hoping and doing it “quietly” are what I have choose to do.
After tutoring middle schoolers for over 12 years and writing screenplays and manuscripts for 14 years, I’d say I’ve gained a lot of patience. Those two jobs are the results of the “Lord, give me patience” prayer. People tell me I should never pray for that, but I wouldn’t trade the lessons at all. Why? Because I now have more patience than I ever could have imagined, and growing stronger in this trait every day. I’m not perfect at it and still like to hurry at times, but I’m way more relaxed and calm and patient than I used to be. I am glad I took the leap of faith to ask God for exactly what I needed at the time. He has answered that prayer beautifully over the years, in ways that were tough and complicated and not easy, but definitely worth it. Because I asked for the thing I knew I needed the most (at the time), the Lord was faithful to bless me greatly in this area of my life, and for that (and many other things), I will always and forever be grateful to Him.
Blessings,
Andrea
Writer & Copyeditor
andrearenee2004@yahoo.com
writingtoinspire.blogspot.com
Thanks, Wemble! I’m excited to share the cover with all of you. I’m with you on struggling to wait for the return of summer. For me, summer means my hummingbirds return and that makes me happy. Thanks for visiting today!
Thanks so much, Renate. Having grown up with the Shenandoah Valley practically in my back yard, I’m grateful for friends like, Dor, who can continue to inspire me with her photos, since I now live in NC. Speaking of NC, yes, the flooding in parts of the state is devastating. They certainly need our prayers.
I’m with you and the traffic. That’s probably where I’m most impatient. Perhaps that’s why I get to my day job at 6:00 a.m. But you know what, there’s still a lot of people on the road at 5:30 a.m. I suppose in some areas, there’s no escaping the traffic.
I’m sorry to hear about your broken wrist and that the recovery has been slow. I’ll keep you in my prayers for continued and faster healing. It’s difficult to be patient when it comes to our health or the health of our loved ones. Thanks for stopping by today!
My pleasure, Teri! I feel the same about second chances…we can all use one now and then, right? Being patient towards others is a great quality to have. I’m often surprised by how impatient people can become while waiting in a check-out line at the grocery store. Those poor cashiers…they don’t deserve that kind of treatment. I appreciate you stopping by today!
Hi Cassandra! Imagine, if we ever met in person for lunch, we’d both be right on time…early! I’ve been known to arrive 45 minutes early to appointments. Like yourself, I don’t want someone to think I don’t believe their time is valuable. I think your last sentence would make a great t-shirt! Thanks so much for your visit and comment.
Aw…thanks so much, JoAnn! I had no idea my book would go up on these sites without a cover. A friend emailed me the news…lol! I love that sign! You’re right about time flying. It’s hard to believe we’re approaching the holiday season. Thanks for reading today, my friend.
Thank you for sharing that beautiful verse, Katy. I meditated on that for many months when I lost my job and few years ago. Being impatient behind the wheel is common for so many of us. Lately, with all of the incidents of road rage, I make an effort to relax and enjoy a Joyce Meyer CD while sitting in traffic. Thanks for visiting today!
Hi Andrea! I’ve never attempted to write a screenplay, but like writing a book, I’m sure it takes plenty of patience. And tutoring middle school children for over 12 years…yikes…all of those newly sprouting hormones…kudos to you!
I think the world would be a much better place if more prayed “Lord, give me patience.” Everyone is in such a hurry to get to where they want to go and not taking the time to enjoy the journey. Thanks so much for reading and commenting today, Andrea.
Jill, I admire your on time scenario. I don’t like to wait around, so I am likely to be late rather than early. I like to get places exactly on time rather than early, but too often my exactly on time tends to make me late.
LOL! As long as I have a good book, I don’t mind waiting around, Merrillee. Plus, I like to people watch. Thanks for reading!
Love the blurb! Sounds like a great book! No, I’m not patient. I’m early for appointments, and when the clock says it’s time to get started, it’s time to get started lol.
Hi Sally! It’s great to see you! I’m happy you enjoy the blurb. I know one thing you’re not patient about…waiting for snow! Have you started your snow dancing yet? :) Thanks for popping by!
Jill, you are so right! The world would definitely be a better place if people would ask God for more patience. :)
Thanks for your amazing article today. So thought-provoking.
I’d like to say I’m patient but it definitely depends on what I’m waiting for ;)
Sound like this book is good to be a very good read. I think it all depends on the situation as to how patient I can be. If it something I am scored about and want to know the result, then all patience go out the window.
Great point, Beth! Waiting for an appointment with my dentist…I’m very patient. Thanks for stopping by!
That’s so true, Kaleen. Fear can definitely impact our ability to be patient and wait. Thanks for stopping by today!
Oh I love waiting for appointments if I’m alone, bonus reading time!!! :D
My pleasure, Andrea. Thanks for visiting. Enjoy your day!
Exactly! :)
I’ve never really considered myself a very patient person, lol! But I’ve had to learn that everything comes in God’s timing and not mine, so I’ve had to learn to wait….which is not an easy task! With God’s help, it’s become a little better over the years. I know whatever He has in store, is worth it :-)
You’re right, Trixi, it’s not always easy. But in the end, it’s always worth it! Have a great day, my friend. Thanks for reading!
Jill, I am so excited to see the cover of your book and read the story. I am so happy for you!!! :-) As for the answer to your question, some days I am patient and some days, I am not. Honestly. haha!
Aw…thanks so much, Mimi! I appreciate your kind words. I have to agree, some days it’s more difficult to be patient. :) Thanks for stopping by!
I’m waiting for your cover too! I hope to share it on my blog. :-)
I’m not a patient person. I used to mark the calendar the same way at Christmas time. :-)
I know you’re not patient, L. Marie…LOL! :) I still mark the calendar because it’s time off from work. Thanks for stopping by.