After Clouds...Rainbows

My second book, After Clouds...Rainbows, is a love story about growing old together. Dianna and Michael, the main characters from, Decision or Destiny, face the challenges of aging. Married thirty-five years and in their mid eighties, they must face reality and make decisions about where and how they want to live out the December of their lives.

This fictional account mirrors real life situations as Dianna questions her own deteriorating physical health and the love of her lifes cognitive and physical changes also. Is this a normal part of getting old? Or does ones attitude play an important part? Or is the understanding and support of family part of surviving ones handicaps?

Stay tuned for updates when this book will be released...

Now back to the rest of the story!

An excerpt from another chapter in Book II, After Clouds...Rainbows

 
Emptiness echoes like a wind chime blowing during a storm...

Michael's face mirrored an after shock of reality...the sudden death of his good friend, Jack.  The news didn't register as they were planning a fishing trip for the next day and Jack was going to get his fishing licence renewed later that morning. He told him that he was trying a new cookie recipe and would bring them on the boat to share with lunch.

Jack's son called in the early evening, his voice was soft and tears muffled the news, "My dad died of a heart attack around noon today."

Time out for life events

I recently took a time out from writing to mourn and attend the funerals of three brother's-in-law, a step uncle, and the fishing buddy of my dear one.

"Live Like You Were Dying", sung by Tim McGraw, brings to mind how short our time on this earth is, and to spend each moment doing what we love best!  And say "I love you" more often to your family and friends. We never know when we'll be seeing one another again.

Replace negative emotions and words with kindness - it feels better and is healthier!  Love surely trumps hate!

We each have a path to follow, may it be filled with all good things. Enjoy the butterflies, birds and flowers along the way!

Book II coming to your neighborhood bookstore soon!

After Clouds...Rainbows

A love story about growing old together, based on actual events in the lives of Michael and Dianna (the main characters from  Decision or Destiny) is nearing completion and will have a coming out party this summer. More details will be posted soon!

The Train Ride, a poem in a chapter for Book II

Time, precious time, wait...

No, I know you won't, or can't.

Like a speeding train can't stop fast - but slow.

But no, not even slow - dear time where do you go?

Don't look back - be right here...

In time, forever in time - the years whiz by, why?

Keep moving, keep riding...until...

there's no days or years - left.

Starting from the ending...

The Last Chapter?

A Different Dream

Today I started from the end of the story - I had to leave it at 550 words - it's a bittersweet ending and it brought me to tears. It ends with a poem that subtley shows what happens.

Poem For Chapter 18, Book II

Of Clouds, Then Rainbows

To be sad, sick, sicker, then gone,

 passed into the light, the rainbow.

What peace there may be, no one can see.

A bright light clears clouds, a rainbow appears...

When did it start - this thing called life?

Yes, life is cloudy, but bright, white - if only an absence of color.

It is light we find through sadness, sickness and trials.

Why pain before gain, struggle and grief?

First clouds, than rainbows.

Sometimes rainbows and sun come first, then rain, then pain.

No life is free of either or both - accept clouds as rainbows do appear...

My dear, so dear.

Fourteen Chapters Sent to Editor

Feeling happy and carefree as the geese flying across the horizon.
Happy that fourteen chapters for book two are written and the story moves on...
On until the words tell the rest of the story, the ending...or will it be the beginning of a new one?

Story line/synopsis for book II...

Dianna and Michael are married thirty-five years and still living in Michael's childhood home which he remodelled before they married. It's a two-story home with both front and back porches that each have challenging steps to the entrance.

The story opens with a Christmas surprise that threatens their togetherness. More events and nighmares occur bringing both families together, but closer?

Dianna wakes to reoccurring nightmares only to question their future. Though Michael is resistent to changes, they have a huge decision to make.


*Stay tuned for the rest of the story line. No spoilers - promise!

Another poem for Book II

"A dream so surreal - is it real?
You are here and so am I...why this dream?
What does it mean, is life so mean, heartless, sad?
Mad and sad...is destiny not kind, not good...
all of the time, forever in time?

Book II is moving along...

"Okay, how is Book II coming? When will it be finished?" I have been putting my life in order so my imagination can run wild!! Or writing my wildest dreams so real life is calm, ordinary and happy.

This second book is more than 80% fiction which is fun and a challenge to write!

From Chapter Three: Their Home

Dianna startled herself awake and almost fell as her aching feet stepped on the cold bedroom floor. She had that dream again, the dream that felt so real she was relieved to wake up in the early morning light and find herself safely in their bedroom. Michael's musical snore was comforting now. She shook suddenly and the October chill chased her dream away for the moment as she rolled back into bed. She buried her entire body and part of her head underneath the fluffy down comforter and thought,..Michael is still here and we're sharing our own bed. Thank you dear God. Please send my 'grandma angel' to keep us safe.


Stay tuned for more previews...perhaps Chapter eight or nine. As the story continues, Dianna's dream is revealed and life keeps happening with her family.

Forever

Come stay with me...

Grow old with me, you see...

we are still - together in time and place.

Forever in time - our time.

No one knows you, your heart, 

you - as I do...we do...I love you, I will forever.

~ From book II, Forever in Time (temporary title).

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.