Barbara S. Stewart's Blog

Prologue

Sometimes it’s about looking back and remembering. Sometimes it’s about looking forward, thinking about, and planning the future. And sometimes…well, it’s just about laughing at both of those things.

Today I am laughing over sad times because I’m finally finding the humor and love that surrounded each moment that brought me to the place I am right now. Nothing that happened in our lives can be changed – it happened. Dr. Suess said: “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” The thing is, even the thing that is “over” brought be a gift that I wouldn’t have if it hadn’t happened.

I read another post this morning from someone I follow on Facebook. The gist was SHUT UP AND LISTEN.

Words…

Whether you read them or hear them, interpretation is key. I remember one time I was working on something for work and I’d been using ALL CAPS. I forgot to turn it off when I replied to something else, and the receiver replied back – WHY ARE YOU YELLING AT ME? I called and laughed, said that I was sorry, I wasn’t yelling, and explained what I just said above. Her response: “I’m very sensitive to that!”

Really? We are too sensitive to too many things these days. I respect your beliefs, and your freedoms, but STOP AND LISTEN. HEAR WHAT “I’M” SAYING BEFORE YOU GET ALL “CRAY CRAY” – I don’t mean that just to my self – I mean it to everything that’s going on around us…

Look, here’s the thing… I’m too fat to walk on egg shells…

Sometimes someone writes a negative review or a comment on one of my books and my gut reaction is to reply to them – but I’ve learned to take it as FEEDBACK – NOT FAILURE. I tell myself that not everyone likes the same things – that some people want “more” and I’m not that person. I tell myself that I will be true to my heart in my writing. I do it for me. If you like it – that a BONUS!

(this isn’t about a certain review – it’s just a point)

But I digress…

I “hear” things sometimes too, and wonder if I’m being too sensitive – and then I remember who I am. I am a hard worker. I am a good person. I have a big’ol heart. I have strong ethics and values. I am a writer. I am a wife. I am a friend. I am strong-willed. I am independent. I am a woman. I am weak. I am tired.

I am all these things… But I am also someone who makes mistakes. When I do, I try to make them right. When someone else makes mistakes, I try to give them the opportunity to do the same – make things right. When they don’t, it makes me stumble and fall. Sometimes getting back up is a no-brainer, but sometimes the tumble is harder to recover from.

I will work harder on “me” to hear “you” before I react. I will work harder to understand what I think I heard before I reply. I will work harder to keep my heart off my sleeve and my emotions intact.

(My “I ams” and my “I wills” are part of daily affirmations that I’ve been trying to think about.)

So…

All that said, what WORDS came to your mind as you read this? I’m curious to HEAR your thoughts.

If you’re reading this, I

Good morning lovelies!

Hope that everyone is starting their SONday off to a good beginning. I hope that you are able to do something you love, with SOMEONE YOU LOVE.

I’ve been home for a few days with some “issues” that all I’ll say, but it seems that we are on an upside!

I am easily bored (a good thing for those stories that pop in my head, but they haven’t been talking the last few days.)  While I’ve been home, I asked Gene to help RE-hang some pictures that weren’t where I wanted them and he was gracious to want to help.

I had another project that added some fun, and memories…

I was bored with our bedroom, but not ready to dole out a bunch of money when I don’t have a clue what I’d want. I ran out for a few minutes yesterday because Gene saw an outfit in the Belk sale flyer that he wanted me to have – I will say he has good taste because it’s really cute

OMGeee…

I just can’t. The news is so full of…. BAD STUFF. I want to turn the cable off. I know this “stuff” happens, but we are bombarded with BAD from every direction. Gene likes to read the news on his iPad and sometimes he will read something out loud. I asked him to stop. It’s everywhere – I see it. I know what’s going on. It’s just too much. Everyone has their opinion of our government – of our current events – of their religious beliefs. I GET THAT. Stop bombarding us with it.

At this rate – we will all be on zoloft, or xanax, or some other anti anxiety medication just to get through a normal day. MAKE IT STOP.

I want some GOOD NEWS.

I’m listening to books on CD in the car. I’m trying to read (AND WRITE) to occupy my mind. I’m reading a book each morning called The Miracle Morning to see if I can self-help my way to better day. I’m trying to put the earphones in and listen to music when Gene is watching the news.

Post a link in the comments and tell us what you’re reading. I’m looking for romance. I’m looking for a STORY that will capture my attention so I can turn away from all this insanity.

I want to see some book responses… GO…

Greetings all! There’s a special occasion coming soon and I’m thinking of a celebration to share! Rock and Roll Never Forgets will have a FIVE YEAR BOOKAVERSARY on August 27th! Stay tuned!

The other day, I posted about “An old friend” – today it’s about NEW FRIENDS.

I posted on Facebook last night that I participated in my first book club – that’s not true, but I want to explain. In the past, a group of my local girl friends did an “Evening with the Author” but I don’t think I really thought of it as a book club. I thought of it as time with people I loved.

My brother, Charlie introduced my books to someone he worked with and she, Cindy contacted me to talk about The Face in the Mirror with a group of her friends. I didn’t even know Cindy, but I left our Facetime encounter with NEW FRIENDS. I enjoyed talking to these ladies who knew nothing about me about a piece of my heart – and then I let them in on some of the things I’m working on. I LOVED IT! We talked and laughed and talked some more.

All because of a little story in my head.

I hope that I get the opportunity to do it again.

If you’re reading this, I

Greetings all,

I spent the day with an old friend today. Several actually – Mitchell, Renie and the characters that became The Face in the Mirror. It was a nice visit. I started reading around 10:30 and finished at 7:40 (with a break here and there to run a sweeper, laundry, etc). I’m doing my first book club on Tuesday and I needed a refresher on this story.

It’s funny… When I finished writing the story of these old friends I moved on to new friends. I didn’t forget about Renie and Mitchell, I just made new friends that took my time and space in my head. I realized as I read this story again that I’d missed them. I’d read something and think – I WROTE THAT! One of my favorites was a line about an unlikable character who I described as a “debutante wanna be with a redneck pedigree.” I laughed out loud! I felt proud of Renie and Mitchell’s story.

If you haven’t read this one, I hope you’ll give it a try.

If you’re reading this, I

https://www.amazon.com/Face-Mirror-Barbara-Stewart-ebook/dp/B00JPTMIJ8/ref=la_B0076J5RHE_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1502065092&sr=1-2

…and I’m up early.

I woke up “hearing” some edits I need to make to the WIP I’m working on – After the Fall. That got me emotional. This story goes deeper for me than any I’ve written. And then I started thinking about the day. Bittersweet. I’m going this morning to share some thoughts, and say some words at a friend of mine’s mother’s funeral. She passed a while back, but her birthday is tomorrow (I THINK) and Kristen decided to have a CELEBRATION OF LIFE. She would have been 95.

When I was writing “Lulu’s Loves,” I had a deep conversation with Frenchie – if you could have known her, you would see how a sassy name like French (Frenchie for fun) fit her. We were at a Christmas gathering and I was new to the job I had then and knew only a few people at the event. (There’s a fine line for me between E/I for me. If I’m in a group of people I know – I AM A FLAMING EXTROVERT. That night, the INTROVERT that lives in my body was raging. I saw Frenchie and we took a walk and talked about everything. At 93 at the time, she was sharp and full of thoughts and conversation on a lot of subjects. She was interesting, engaging, and fun. During the walk, my writing came into the conversation and she shared some very insightful thoughts on that subject.

When I was doing my acknowledgements for “Lulu,” I wrote about that evening with her, and Kristen asked me to share that at the gathering today. I was rereading what I wrote and Alis was there too. Alis is always there, but today it’s as though she was giving me the push to be confident as I speak (the EXTROVERT will be there today because the room will be filled with many people I know).

As I’m typing this, there’s a breeze blowing outside – I only know this because the wind chime I hung a couple of weeks ago on the front porch is softly sharing a melody with me – peaceful and calm. I needed that this morning.

Pray for Kristen and her friends today as we say  “au revour mon ami” to Frenchie.

If you are reading this… I love you.  B

Thank you so much to Jen Wildner Just One More Page for creating this beautiful sign-up sheet!

See??? Who said whining doesn’t pay off! Jen, it’s beautiful.

This has all of my books listed.

If you are NOT in the US, contact me and I’ll work it out – I’ve shipped out before!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdsvBk3gJFIdqEH-Ed2R5e1CyFTigjI8tGGUA9Ntl4Eh2Ql8g/viewform

Greetings friends, (I’m pretty sure that if you stop by to read my thoughts you have to be my friend!)

Today is a bittersweet celebration day.

Celebrating that Timeless is live – Andy’s story is finally available for you to catch up on what he’s been thinking all this time. The Rock and Roll Series spans over about forty years and Andy’s kept a lot of things bottled up. Letting go is freeing. I hope you’ll check out the ENCORE (I love that my friend Francine called it that.)

Timeless Andy’s Mind Song Amazon: http://amzn.to/2sYnFGI

Also – Amazon bundled them, so if you haven’t read the first three – you can purchase them all:

or maybe you loved the 1st three so much and are excited about the ENCORE that you want to gift them all.

https://tinyurl.com/yc9vcetk

If you have read the first books, I hope you fall in love with Andy all over again.

I love and appreciate all of  you who have followed OUR journey.

Release day always makes me think of my mom. Alis would already be done reading this book that just released today – she DEVOURED words. I think she is part of each story in some way. I always slip “something Alis” in. This time, she’s a special part of the end of the book, in my “After Thoughts” and I have to thank my friend Judy for the idea of adding what you will find there.

But today I’m thinking of Alis even more. Today is not only release day – it’s my birthday and I miss her most on holidays – and YES! MY BIRTHDAY IS A HOLIDAY!