Merry Christmas dear family and friends!

                   Best wishes for a happy, healthy and fun Christmas! Live each moment, 

                                        love and be loved!!  To Vita!! Celebrate life !!

The path continues...preview of Book II

Dianna's journey brings her through the golden years, now

 thirty-five years since returning home and reuniting 

with her high school sweetheart, Michael.

In Book II they continue to travel destiny's path together - when 

Dianna's re-occurring dream threatens to separate them.

Will they overcome the odds and be together forever?  

Christmas Book Sale - December 1 - 8

Give a gift you would like to receive

A limited number of signed copies of my first book, Decision or Destiny, are available just in time for Christmas giving. Buy one book for $11.99 and get a second one free - starting Monday, December 1 - Monday, December 8.

For more details email me at: darlenebieseschultz@yahoo.com

Free local delivery.

  

Celebrating 15 years of being cancer-free

On September 25, 1999 I was told that I was in complete remission from AML. Celebrating 15 years of being cancer-free. I've learned that life is for living and each day is special. I don't take anyone or anything for granted as love is more important than money or fame.

I am in the process of writing my second book, and although the summer was not very productive for my writing, I am moving along chapter by chapter. My deadline to finish the first draft is before the new year. With much editing, and re-writing the book may be out before spring of 2015.

Stay turned for sample chapters from Book II - Forever I Do (temporary title), a bittersweet love story.

Memories of our special trip to Italy, September 2011

The highlight of our trip was a gondola ride on the Grand Canal in Venice. The musician on the gondola sang "O Solie Mio" in Italian to us.

A warm early September evening in my patio garden

The lyrics, "We traveled half way around the world to find ourselves again..." in the song, "September Morn" by Neil Diamond inspired part of the love story about coming home, Decision or Destiny, published in October 2011.

It's September - write!

This September sky promises more rain and cooler weather. Time to write - at least one page a day! It's a good way to cure writer's block and also a journey along the way to writing that story and making it into a book!! Write on dear friends...

Thanks for your reviews!

I appreciate all your reviews for my first book. Even though you didn't purchase the book from Amazon, but from me or locally at places listed on this blog, you can write a review on my author page. Your comments inspire me to keep writing Book II.

My summer garden

My favorite summer room to read, think and write.

One of my six hybrid tea rose bushes.

Thoughts to ponder...

"Sunsets are always, life is here today! Live in the moment - to Vita!"

My Summer Reading

My summer reading includes, two in a series by Cherry Shauger, "Cherry Pie Tells All, Family Recollections, and her latest, "Cherry Pie Tells All, Peace Corps Reflections."

A memoir, "No Mopes Allowed" by Chief David A. Oliver, a police chief from a small town in Ohio. 

A how-to book, "Windows 8.1 for Dummies" to help navigate the new complex Windows 8.1.

Thought to ponder

"You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don't make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can't take their eyes off of you."  ~ Maya Angelou

Pages from my scrapbook

                           A scrapbook project from my recent trip to Hawaii.

Something to ponder when writing

"No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise for the writer, no surprise for the reader."
~  Robert Frost

August

August is here - capture the moment.

Summer is almost over, but then it never began for some.

The path becomes clearer as you continue.

"Do not be afraid to walk the path that you must go just because you cannot see the end. The path becomes clearer as you continue to go on."   ~ Tracy Allen

Garden grows well where rotted stump was removed

                               This is the best of my gardens in spite of a dry July.

Show, don't tell the story.

"Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass."
~ Anton Chekhov

Where does the path lead?

                    The best part of the journey is enjoying the beauty along the way.

Four basic premises of writing

Clarity, brevity, simplicity and humanity, are  the basic premises of writing well
 - according to William Zinsser.

A passage from Book II

     "This is really special, and I can't believe you still have it," said Noel hugging her grandma tenderly.
     "There's a reason the bracelet survived, that our love survived," said Dianna.
     "There must be a greater force at work here. You and Grandpa Michael reunited for a reason  and your bracelet stayed with you through all those moves. And what about the fact that the silver bracelet has 34 links and you had not seen grandpa for 34 years?"

Quote from a famous author

"In order to write about life first you must live it."
~ Ernest Hemingway

Happy Independence Day!

Thought for the day

More than anything else I believe it's our decision, not the conditions of our lives,
that determine our destiny. ~ Anthony Robbins

My Rose Garden

Almost a dozen roses from one bush. It's time to cut them and enjoy them inside.

Something to ponder

"The best time for planning a book is while you are
doing the dishes."  ~ Agatha Christie

Summer is Here

The warm summer breeze blows the scent of roses and lavender
through my open window.
Summer is here, and winter - just a distant memory.

A famous author once said:

"It's none of their business that you have to learn to write.
 Let them think you were born that way."
~ Ernest Hemingway

Memories of my Dad

I have many fond memories of my dad and with Father's Day on Sunday, I recall a special time. When I moved back to Wisconsin in 1993 and reconnected with my high school sweetheart, I was getting ready to go fishing with him and my dad said, "You can't be late for fishing, it's way too important."

My dad was very serious about fishing and so is my sweetheart. It makes me smile thinking about these two special guys in my life that related so well and shared a love of fishing.

Dad took me fishing when I was about five; and fishing together almost fifty years later was priceless and some of the best times I've shared with my dad.

Quotes from novelists

"You can fix everything but a blank page."  ~ Nora Roberts

"Perfection is not necessary to make a real and lasting difference to other people's lives."
~ JK Rowling

Photos from 2013 garden

My perennials are blooming a bit later this spring. Although most survived our long, cold winter.

Quote from a wise woman

"If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be."
~ Maya Angelou

From "Decision or Destiny"

Today I will marry my best friend;

the one I laugh with, live for, dream with.

Love...

More perfect than I had planned, my wedding day brought me full circle...I was home finally! Clear blue Wisconsin skies and warming sunshine highlighted the freshly opened pink and white blossoms as we walked down the winding path to the covered bridge...to the chapel in the woods.

(The actual characters that the story is based on, are married for 18 years, May 31, 2014)

Poem from "Decision or Destiny"

You were first mine in nineteen fifty-nine.

We danced and dreamed and enjoyed the day,

until I said I will be going away.

Our lives went on with others we wed,

and I thought my feelings for you were dead.

Again my life changed and I felt the pain.

Just when I thought I had nothing to gain,

my friend said you too were alone.

I wrote a letter saying I was coming home.

We talked and walked and danced all night.

The flame of love was still there,

and I sensed that you also did care.

Now that we have married, coming home was oh so right.

Remember all those who served our country

Warmer days and nights are finally here!

It's nice to see the apple blossoms open. There is hope that warmer weather is here. I even planted some annuals in pots for my back porch.

Something to ponder

"A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit."  ~ Richard Bach

The Trilliums are blooming

Even though our spring is so cool, the Trilliums are making an appearance.

Writer's quote

"There is something delicious about writing the first words of a story. You never quite know where they'll take you." ~ Beatrix Potter

My dear, sweet Mom

After leaving my hometown for more than 30 years, destiny brought me back home. My relationship with my mother grew stronger and I cherished the 11 years we had together before she lost her memories. Her birthday was on May 10 and sometimes would fall on Mother's Day. Mom died three days after her 92nd birthday - ten years ago.

Thoughts on writing

"Writing should be a happy experience without any pressure. The end result is words on the page. Publishing is just an added bonus."   ~ Phillip Margolin

"Rather than being a writer, I was a narrator of the movie in my brain."  ~ Herschel Cobb

Is it spring yet?

In just spring, the daffodils are...the snow is no more. It is time we welcome spring and beg it to stay around until the warm breezes usher in summer.

Book II Chapter 3: Their Home

Dianna startled herself awake and almost fell as she stepped on to the cold bedroom floor. She fumbled to put on her furry slippers. She had the dream again. The dream felt so real she was relieved to be awake in the early morning light and find herself safely in her bedroom. Michael's musical snore was comforting now. She shook suddenly and the October chill chased her dream away for the moment as she returned from the bathroom and rolled back into bed. She buried her entire body underneath the fluffy down comforter and thought, Michael is still here beside me sharing our own bed. Thank you dear God. Please send my special 'grandma angel' to keep us safe. 

Another excerpt from Book II

Two days later, after being transferred out of intensive care, and more tests to determine her status, Dianna was released from the hospital and Michael was happy to be taking her home. He was relieved that she recovered quickly, relieved she was back to her feisty self, and relieved that they would be together to share their life. Routine as it may be, they loved each other and being together was their purpose.

Love brought us together,

love will keep us that way forever.

Forever in time;

we will take care of each other.

In good times and bad,

happy or sad, 

whatever life will bring...

Forever in Time - Chapter 1

Excerpts from Book II - Forever in Time, the continuing love story from Decision or Destiny

Michael's my angel. What would I ever do without him? He might have to be my voice from now on...

Time seemed to fly like a race car and Dianna was transferred to intensive care for closer observation. Before being moved she was introduced to the neurologist that would follow her and supervise her recovery. Doctor Cervello, tall with posture that increased his height, was an upbeat medical professional. He candidly announced that her condition was serious and more tests would be performed to find the possible cause. Along with his bluntness, Doctor Cervello urged Dianna to stay positive, "Don't be sad, think of good things. We will be watching you closely."

~ Forever in Time, Chapter 1