Hello, Inspy Readers, Jill here. Please welcome my sweet friend and talented writer, Dora Hiers. Today she’s here to talk about the importance of recharging our battery. And today only, she’s offering a free Kindle copy of her latest Christian romance novella, Where Wishes Live.
When You Need to Recharge
By Dora Hiers
We all struggle through difficult challenges at some point. Whether it’s navigating the turbulent seas of unemployment, scaling the mountain to reclaim trust after a spouse’s unfaithfulness, or digging yourself out of a financial grave. Take your pick. Whatever it is, pressure gains momentum as a culmination of events and issues take turns with their punches. Or perhaps one major incident knocks us until we’re staggering backward like a fighter in a boxing ring, squeezing the breath from our lungs until our vision blurs and the voices around us fade into oblivion.
We each handle stress differently. Some people thrive on it. Others tug the blanket back over their head and sleep. I tend to…
Run!
Not run away because we all know that doesn’t solve any problems.
You know how at times events just keep piling on your calendar until suddenly you’ve lost control? That seems to be us on a regular basis. Juggling my husband’s hectic schedule and relentless availability as a fire chief takes a toll, mostly on me because he’s wired differently. Can you imagine sleeping with a radio next to your bed for thirty years? And when the “all call” alarm goes off in the middle of the night, not only does it scare the bejeebers out of me, but he might be out on a call for hours. Combine that with the constant pressure of the writing business, which often manages to take over my life. In this age of constant connectivity, where immediate responses are expected to emails and social media, does anyone ever really leave their job in the workplace anymore? So, when my stressometer spikes, we head to the mountains to recharge over a long weekend. Or more. Lol.
Peace speaks to my soul here, whispers that everything’s going to be all right, that life is so much more than writing and books. Being here brings God more into focus, and the pressure lifts. I can breathe deep again, liberated from the chains of anxiety that squeeze my chest. We brew a pot of coffee, kick up our feet and just soak in the quiet. Amazing Grace soothes my spirit.
Camille Tulane, my heroine in Where Wishes Live, runs too, but she runs back home. After ten years working abroad, she’s struggling with a few weighty decisions. Should she accept her Italian boyfriend’s proposal when he’s already married to his job? Or should she even remain in Italy when her heart’s yammering for Steepleview and memories of Chase, her high school sweetheart, refuse to stay tucked away? When her father mentions selling the family vacation home, Camille jumps on the chance to come back and recharge. Mix an adorable Rottweiler stray puppy with a cinnamon haired ex-boyfriend determined to show her all the reasons she should stay, add a pinch of winter fun, and bam! A recipe for a second chance at love. Where Wishes Live…
Like Camille, hubby and I travel extensively. It’s always nice to get away, to destress and recharge, but coming home? Ahhh! That sweet connection wells up as soon as we pull in the driveway. Home, where everything is familiar and I don’t need to pull up a map on my cellphone. Home, to a soft mattress and just-the-right-shape pillows, strong coffee, and local restaurants with food and words I recognize. Home, where we don’t have to rely on Google Hangouts to soak in our family’s precious faces. Home, back to the comfort of a routine because that’s the way I roll. So, I may run, but I always come back home.
What about you? How do you handle stress?
Do you have a favorite place to recharge?
He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in him,
whose thoughts turn often to the Lord! ~Isaiah 26:3 TLB
Where Wishes Live
After ten years abroad, renowned chef Camille Tulane is back in the good ole USA. Good? Ha! The only good memories were her family’s annual holiday pilgrimages to Tennessee, and hanging out with the handsome Chase Kirkland. Now, her ambitious Italian boyfriend’s proposal has her running scared. She has one month to prep their vacation house for sale, one month to give Antonio an answer. But she doesn’t need that long. Not when Chase smiles at her like that…
Chase Kirkland regrets letting Camille fly away, but he couldn’t clip her angel wings. She’d never be happy in small town Steepleview, and he couldn’t imagine living anywhere else, especially not since buying Where Wishes Live, the winter resort where they met. When Camille fills in for the pregnant resort chef, suddenly those angel wings look like they might have come home to nest, and Chase vows to bring all her wishes to life.
Where Wishes Live…a story of second chances and renewed faith.
Purchase Link: http://amzn.to/1X2Bxs0
Meet Dora…
Dora believes that a person should love what they do or choose to do something else. She’s doing exactly what makes her heart sing, and considers every day a gift. When she takes a break from cranking out heart racing, God-gracing romances, Dora adores reading, chowing down on her hubby’s lip-smacking home-smoked ribs, and sipping coffee on a mountain cabin deck. Life’s too short to be stuck in traffic, to drink bad coffee, or to read books with a sad ending. Dora and her real life hero make their home in North Carolina, but with a world full of amazing places to explore, that’s only a landing point.
Come hang out with Dora on Fiction Faith & Foodies, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram. She loves hearing from reader friends at DoraHiers@gmail.com. Dora also writes sweet romance that sizzles under the pen name, Tori Kayson.
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.
Welcome, Dora! Thank you for visiting Inspy Romance today, and offering a free Kindle copy of Where Wishes Live. I’m sure everyone will enjoy it as much as I did.
My favorite way to recharge is with a good book.
Hi Dora, I have enjoyed a few of your books over the past couple of year, thanks for writing:) Favourite way to recharge- easy, with a good book, bike ride or walk:)
Thanks so much for inviting me, Jill. Nothing beats kicking that recliner back in the evenings with a great book, right? Happy Monday, sweet friend!
Awww! Thanks for reading them, Wemble! :)
All wonderful ways to recharge. Do you have a favorite spot to bike and walk? I love walking the mile trail around a park near our house. So relaxing, except in these horrid 90 degree temps. lol. Wishing you a fantastic Monday, Wemble!
Camille and Chase’s story seems very nice. I’m adding it to my to-be-read list.
I do run away home to my hubby’s arms when I’m stressed — he always knows just how to soothe my worries. And although I’m not a romance writer (but I write academic papers) the worse stress is also writing and peer (instead of editor’s) pressure. Kind of similar but miles away.
Walking, watching the birds, reading, are ways I recharge. One a year we go to the beach and I love to swim and watch the waves. Reading the Bible is also a great way to destress and remember God is in control! :-)
When stress tightens its hold, my husband and I love to escape to one of the nearby lakes, sometimes to kayak and other times to simply sit and watch happy families, waves, and gorgeous scenery. I love living where God’s love of beauty is constantly displayed in His creation.
Hi Dora, and welcome to Inspy Romance! :) What a wonderful surprise to see your guest post here today. I often need to refresh, and I usually go to our back deck in the morning, put up my feet, and–with a cup of coffee in hand–pray, read, and ponder the Scriptures. That’s the best way for me to get a handle on stress and recharge the old batteries. Of course, getaways are great, too. :) I’d love to have a mountain retreat, but like you and your hubby, Jim and I like to travel when we can. The last few years, we’ve enjoyed cruising in the Caribbean when the weather’s cold stateside. Congrats on the new book, and continued blessings in your writing!
Like you, Dora, and Kathleen, I destress best in nature. I prefer walks along the ocean, but the nearest one is a ten hour drive away over seven mountain passes, so that doesn’t happen very often! More often you’ll find us pulling our little holiday trailer up beside some mountain stream and relaxing for a few days.
Your book sounds fun. Off to check it out. :)
I often take a walk in the afternoon to unwind on a daily basis. For longer periods, just getting away from home for a few days and letting someone else cook and clean helps. We like to go camping in the mountains, but we haven’t done that for a few years because our pop-up camping trailer needed a lot of work, and then we got a new car that needed a towing hitch installed (which my husband did), and then I had heart surgery 2 years ago and my husband had a heart procedure last year. So maybe this summer!
Thanks, Priscila! Oh how sweet and romantic!! Kudos to your hubby for knowing what you need when you need it. Mine is a little dense in that regard, but I love him anyway. lol. Happy Monday!
Another bird watcher!! Hey, did you know Jill captures some amazing bird videos and photos? She must be a bird whisperer because they let her get super close. ;)
For the first twenty years of our marriage, we lived in Florida, about half an hour from the beach. Neither of us are beach people, but I can understand why people love it. So tranquil and relaxing to sit outside and soak in the sun, admiring God’s handiwork, isn’t it? And I’m with you on reading the Bible. It’s the best way to start a day! Happy Monday, Diana!
Hey Kathleen! That sounds AMAZING!! Can I visit? lol
Thanks, JoAnn! You like to escape the cold weather and we usually gravitate to it. How funny! :)
Thanks, and wishing you the same! Keep cranking out those books! You’re amazing. xo
Oh, that’s a long ways and the drive sounds stressful. I love your alternative, Valerie. Doesn’t get any better than that, does it? Thanks for the sweet words. We share a similar appreciation for food. Hubby and I co-write our blog, Fiction Faith & Foodies. :)
Hey Margaret! Sounds like a wonderful way to unwind and exercise at the same time. I’m sorry to hear about your health issues, but I hope all is well and you and hubby can escape to the mountains this year! xo
Hi Dora, I can’t wait to cuddle up with this book. You have such a marvelous way with words and feelings. I have no magic answers to relieving stress. Sometimes it seems my middle name. But I guess talking to the horses at the rescue where I volunteer…most are well now after sad stories so I know it can be done. Love to you, my friend!
I love to recharge by sitting on the back deck and reading a good book. :-) Also, my husband and I love to walk on the beach when we visit our son and daughter-in-love in South Carolina.
Hey Tanya! Those sweet babies have been through a lot, haven’t they? I’m quite sure they hear and understand you and your abundant whispers of love, and that helps them heal.
I most definitely could NOT do this writing gig without your sweet encouragement and tough love. So appreciate you, my friend, and sending hugs and much love backatcha. Happy Monday!
Hey Melissa! Sitting on the back deck with a cool glass of iced tea and a good book sounds divine right now. Might take your advice before I leave to pick up our Little Man. We’re keeping our grandkiddo while our son and daughter-in-love vacation at the beach. lol. Wishing you a fabulous afternoon.
Thank you for the free e-book. It sounds quite fascinating! I know I will enjoy it a lot. May God bless you and guide yo.
You’re a sweetheart, Faith. Thank you!
This story sounds lovely, as all yours are, Dora. My favorite place to recharge is the Psalms. I prefer a quiet place with birdsong as a background. David’s writings reveal how human he was. God is beyond awesome in the way He created the Bible to sound fresh and meaningful, no matter the century in which we read it.
I recharge every day with scripture, and like LoRee often in the soothing Psalms.
But buying one house and selling our own has been very stressful. Every single day a new curve ball. Before I go to bed this evening, I want to write “Try SHRUG therapy” on an index card. That will be my reminder tomorrow to shrug and say, “It’ll be okay!”
Awww! Thank you, LoRee. This is my first year reading chronologically. Otherwise, I tend to read a few books, then go back to the Psalms. Again… lol. Thanks for popping in!
Oh, Marian, not much is more stressful than buying and selling a house, especially if you’ve lived in your house for a long time. My hubby’s motto is “Everything happens for a reason.” Praying for your peace and a smooth transition, my friend. xo
What amazing timing. Hi Dora! I just met you on an Avid Christian Readers Facebook site when I was looking for VA/NC authors for a library author book chat! Great article on stress. I work in a very busy customer service educational/career facility, I check on my aging, widowed father, take care of the hubs and home, and this week I have VBS at church. Sometimes when I arrive home, I’m so stressed and I just want to go to a quiet place and hide…for days!. However, life does not always allow you to hide, and I’m so thankful for a Savior who gives us peace even in the craziness of life’s demands. Plus I’m hoping my sweet hubby will want to get-away for a little quiet vacation soon.
Hey Stacey! Great to see you here, and thanks bunches for the sweet words. :)
After all that, I’d be exhausted too! Hope you get to take that quiet little — no make that long — vacation soon, my new friend. Where you can soak in the Word, sigh over happily-ever-after stories, and share romantic moments with hubby. xo
Wonderful interview with one of my favorite authors. I have read and loved Where Wishes Live. My favorite way to recharge is with a good book.