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Thanks for
stopping by my "Mrs. Mac" page to find out more about my reading,
writing and publishing. First, here's what I've been reading:
Mrs. Mac's
"I Liked It
List"
The
column on the left of this page tells you what I have been reading for my
devotional material as well as adult non-fiction.
As a
writer, it's important for me to read - especially in
the area in which I am writing. I've been known to frequent book
stores and my local library. Here's my latest recommendations:
(Updated Jan. 1, 2012)
I am taking a reviewing break while
caring for Stacie. But I am reading and will try and post some new books
for you to enjoy soon. In the meantime, read all your favorite Christmas
classics (and you can even watch the movies!)
Adult Fiction:
Picture Books:
Middle Grade Novel:
Now on to my WRITING!
As well as
singing Southern Gospel music with my family, I am a writer. I love
writing for children and that is what I do most of the time, although I
do write devotions for this web site and occasionally do some freelance
writing.
UPDATE - Dawn of Day,
my first middle grade historical fiction book, being published by Rowe Publishing and Design,
will be accepting pre-orders soon. I will keep you posted so you can go to
www.rowepublishingdesign.com and order the book.
This story is close to my heart as it takes place in the area where my mom grew up and
she's one of the characters - when she was six years old! The story
includes a tale of the Underground Railroad and it's connection to a
historical church which was actually one of the very first places I ever
sang as a child.
Dawn of Day is being illustrated by Gwen Battis of Silver Lake,
KS.
Gwen is currently the Assistant Director of the Silver Lake
Library. Everybody loves her wonderful painted library windows. Yes,
that is the same Kansas library where I was the director for many years. Gwen is a very talented illustrator and I am so excited to collaborate
with her on this project.
These
bookmarks were handed out at the Homecoming of the church
that is featured in the book. Gwen drew wonderful likenesses of two of
the characters.
My Other Writing
I am currently working
on expanding my very first writing project into a middle grade novel
called Winnie's Trinity Tales. Yes, that's a new
title. As I rewrite, the story is changing, which often happens during
rewrites! The character of Winnie is
one I've been drawing since I was a kid and Ginnie was inspired by my
first Samoyed dog. That's me in the photo at the
top of the page with my Winnie doll wearing her most remarkable hat and my
stuffed Ginnie dog.
Other
writing projects in progress or completed include: three picture books, a children's
mystery series, another middle grade novel - a funny one this time, and
a young adult novel. I've
written hundreds of articles and columns over the years for newsletters
and newspapers and devotionals. They may wind up in a devotional book
someday. But my first love is writing for
kids.
I firmly
believe this is true: "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will
give you the desires of your heart." And so, I delight and write.
(See my article at the bottom of this page about pursuing my dream of
being a writer.)
***
Now, may I introduce
you to my dear friend, Carol Jolly
Editor of Squabble Hollow, (her
grandmother's book)
Author of The Home in my Heart
and That's What They Said!!
Carol Jolly promised
to edit her grandmother's book, Squabble Hollow,
which is a Reynolds' family memoir and a history of Happy Corner and growing up in the Colebrook, NH, area.
She prepared and retyped the hand-written manuscript and I did the
computer work to publish and turn it into a book. Since then, Carol and I have
published her first book which is based on her years as an activity
director at a Personal Care Home in MS. I guarantee The Home
In My Heart will make you laugh and cry. If you know anyone who
lives or works in a nursing home or assisted living, you should read
this book and then give it to them. It is also a good book for
people who are considering putting a parent in a home and are having a
hard time with guilt. These two books are available in paperback
and formatted in large easy to read print. Squabble Hollow
is $35 and The Home In My Heart is $17, plus shipping. Carol's latest
book about her two years as a Kindergarten teacher at a Christian school
in Maine, is in its second printing.
That's What They Said!! is a collection of stories about,
and quotes from, Carol's students along with vintage Carol commentary.
This book will make a great gift book for any teacher, but whoever reads
it, will laugh, cry, and be amazed at the faith and wisdom of children.
Order it today! Only $10 plus shipping. Carol now writes her
stories online. To be added to her email story list you may send a
request to me or to her directly at
jollygeaz@aol.com
***
J-Mac Publishing came about because I
wanted to assist my friends who wanted to self-publish their books, but
needed a little help getting it done. After publishing six titles
for others, I decided to publish one of my own, Karla's Favorite
Things. Karla worked for me at the Silver Lake Library.
She has cerebral palsy but that never stopped this lady. This is a story
told in Karla's own voice about her love for the library, Southern
Gospel Music, and her Lord.
J-Mac Publishing
has also published two
picture books written by my friend Carolyn A. Linsey from Silver Lake,
KS. Carolyn was on my library board for many years when I was a
library director and she used to come read these stories to my Storytime kids.
Carolyn's two books are Grandpa and Spooky,
a fun Halloween tale and The Chocolate Snowman which is a
wonderful Christmas story. I helped with the illustrations for both
these books. Carolyn's hardback picture books are $20 each plus
shipping.
Another release of
J-Mac Publishing is
a book of poetry by
Elizabeth Burns-Arney, titled Journeys in Poetry.
If you enjoy poetry, I know you will enjoy
Elizabeth's book. Hardbacks $20 and paperbacks $15
plus shipping.
To order any of these
books, use the contact information below.
     
For More Information on:
J-Mac Publishing (Jeannie helping
writers self publish their books) or to order books,
Call Jeannie at 828-322-2218 or email her at
jeannie@themacsmusic.com
Thoughts on
Pursuing My Dream of Being a Writer
Jeremiah 29:11 has
always been one of my favorite verses. You can find it printed on many
gift items in the Christian Book Store. Most of the time it is probably
used as a reminder that God has a plan for every one of our lives –
"His
thoughts and plans are for our good, to give us a hope for the future."
Before Dennis and I started singing with the Messengers Quartet in
Kansas, I did a year-long stint on the speaking circuit for Christian
Women’s Clubs. In that presentation I told about all the jobs I’d
had and how God used them in my life. Now I was only twenty-four years
old at the time (oh, that hurts) so the fact that I’d already
experienced about six different jobs since high school, culminated in a
pretty humorous talk. But my main point was that God will take a
circumstance or situation we are in and use it to teach us something
that will help
lead us further along the path He has planned for our life.
I eventually found my niche – the library. God blessed me with a
job I loved and friendships that have lasted, even though I now live in
North Carolina. Some of my jobs over the last thirty years I
enjoyed very much. Some I did not. But they were all learning
experiences and in the place I am right now, today, I can see God’s hand
in placing me on every path. It amazes me how I use things I
learned on each job, and in every life experience, in what I am doing
today. Along with singing on weekends with my family, my current
“job” is the one that I love the most and the one I know I was meant to
do - at this time in my life. I will soon be a real honest to
goodness published
children’s author and I thank God for the opportunities He has
provided. I want my
books to be like the ones I read as a kid - if you are a reader,
you know the kind I mean - the books you'd hide under the bed until lights out and then crawl under the covers with a
flashlight to finish them. And that’s a good thing, because if kids are going to
learn to love to read today, they need to want to turn the page
and find out what happens next. (OK - or touch the screen and see the
page flip over by itself!) But I also want my stories to delight
readers, touch hearts, and point to Jesus so others can know Him and
discover His special plan for their lives.
I've heard many sermons and read books
about finding and pursuing the destiny God has planned for you. I’m
doing that and I can tell you it is an adventure. I didn’t consciously
dream of being a children’s writer until a few years ago. But the
seed was planted by those books I checked out at the library as a child and
finished reading by flashlight. The seed grew when I was a library
director and watched my love for books and reading being passed down
to my young patrons. And the dream was born when my life and job
situation changed a few years ago and some friends encouraged me to start
writing down those stories dancing around in my head. God speaks to us
through His Word and our circumstances and often He uses people to encourage us to step out
and pursue the dream He puts in our heart. (Thanks to my
past and present "encouragers" - you know who you are.)
If you haven’t figured out what your dream is yet, don’t be discouraged.
Ask God what His plan is, get into His Word, see what He has to say
about it and network with some “encouragers!”
And remember, as C.S. Lewis, author of the Chronicles of Narnia said,
“You are never too old to set a new goal or
to dream a new dream.”
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