I Have Arrived....or....Have I?

Hello There!

For those of you who don't know me, my name is Pamela S Thibodeaux and Anna has graciously extended me an ivitation to visit with you today.

When I began writing more than twenty-five years ago, I had no clue what I was getting myself into. All I knew was I’d been disappointed one-too-many times. Based on what I read I figured it couldn’t be hard. I can do better than this!

With the niavette of the uninformed, I figured all I had to do was write a good story and BAM! I’d be published. So I did. I poured my heart out in page after page of five-subject notebooks. By the time I’d filled several and started researching how to get published, I found out the manuscript had to be typed!

I didn’t own a typewriter nor could I afford to rent one. Then came the blessed day I purchased a used word processor. Just when I thought I’d be able to really embark on the glamorous journey, submissions became electronic!

I’d put off buying a computer for lots of reasons, the main one ~ all I do is write. After getting connected, I figured the voyage to being in print was just an email away. Wrong again.

My first novel was accepted as an Ebook, my first short story in an Ezine. What’s with this E-industry? I wanted to hold a book in my hands – after all, being Epublished isn’t really published. That’s what ‘they’ say (anyone ever figure out who ‘they’ are?).

In my article on Success, I make a statement…as beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, so is success. It is, in and of itself, success.

In addition to numerous articles and essays, poems and devotions, I now have 5 published novels (4 part Tempered series & The Inheritance) available in ebook and print as well as 5 short stories available for readers. This year I signed my un-contracted work with a Literary Agent. Guess this means I’ve finally arrived……or Have I?

We all have our own definition of success, our own idea of what it means to ‘arrive.’ I’ll arrive when I can make a living doing what I love most – bring glory to God through my writing.

When will you know you have ‘arrived’? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this but please remember, I work full-time so I won’t be around much to chat – I will however, drop by this evening to answer your comments.

Until later…. Be Blessed!

Bio: Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder of Bayou Writers Group and a member of White Roses in Bloom Authors. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” (TM) and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.”

Website address: http://www.pamelathibodeaux.com
Blog: http://pamswildroseblog.blogspot.com
WRIB Blog: http://whiterosesinbloom.blogspot.com

In Search of Pug Hill

Why are there no pugs at Pug Hill?

One of my favorite books is Pug Hill by Alison Pace. It tells the story of a young woman with an unrelenting crush on one of her co-workers who finds solace at Pug Hill in New York City. Pug Hill is a particular spot in Central Park where pugs and their pug-loving owners get together to romp and play.



After reading Pug Hill, I became fascinated with the idea of such a magical place. Well, magical for dog lovers, anyway. I googled pug hill to see if it was real. Turns out, yes, there was once an actual pug hill. Right there in Central Park, near the Alice in Wonderland statue. But, once Alison Pace wrote about pug hill in her book, the pug lovers pulled the pug – oops, I mean plug – and stopped going. That’s right. No more pugs.


I had hoped to visit pug hill someday. In fact, the next time I’m in New York, I’m going there anyway. Maybe I’ll find a few rogue pugs there. The thought of no pug hill made me sad. It also made me want to write my own book about a place as delightful as pug hill. My search for the elusive pug hill is, in part, what led me to write my new novella, Once Upon a Collar.


No, there aren’t any pugs in Once Upon a Collar. But a big part of the story – the better part of the romantic moments, anyway – happen at the dog park. The heroine meets her hero there. And it seems nothing can go wrong.


Until they bump into each other away from the dog park. And then all H-E-double hockey sticks breaks loose.


But, the best part about Once Upon a Collar is that it is FREE. Yep, that’s right. My publisher, White Rose Publishing, is serializing my novella. They’ll release it, one chapter at a time, beginning on Friday, September 18.


All you need to do is join the White Rose Publishing Yahoo Group to get the free weekly downloads. The link to join the group is:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WhiteRosePublishing/


So, come join the fun. We will also be having a fun discussion about the book along the way.


In the meantime, if you leave a comment on this blog telling me that you joined the White Rose Yahoo Group (or that you are already a member), I’ll put your name in a drawing to receive my two Hoofbeats & Heartstrings books from The Wild Rose Press, Do You Hear What I Hear? and Love, Lilies & the Unbroken Straw. Either the print or e-book versions. Be sure and check back here tomorrow (in the comments section) to see who won!


Here’s a little sneak peak at Once Upon a Collar…

Blurb:

Whenever Emilie Bonner meets a man, she can’t help but imagine what he would look like on top of a wedding cake. Since she spends most of her waking hours designing wedding cake toppers, it’s somewhat of an occupational hazard.


Somewhere along the way--perhaps after the first two hundred or so--hand-crafted bridegrooms, Emilie begins to doubt she’ll ever find her own happily-ever-after.


Then, after a mysterious encounter with a woman who could be an angel, Emilie meets a handsome stranger at the dog park. At first, it seems as though Matt, with his big dopey dog and irrepressible charm, is the Prince Charming she’s been waiting for. Not only is he a sweetheart, but he’d look great on top of a wedding cake.


Soon, however, she discovers something about him that changes everything and leaves her wondering…does God believe in fairy tales?



Excerpt:


“Would you care for some company?”


Butterflies take flight in the pit of my stomach until I realize that no, God is not answering me in an audible fashion. Rather, someone is addressing me right here in the dog park. A man, if the deep voice is any indication. A man who is, apparently, not intimidated by outrageously large dogs.


Bright sunlight assaults my vision as my eyelids flutter open. I can’t see the stranger belonging to the manly inflection, only a dark shadow backlit by rays of glittering sunshine.


“I’m sorry to disturb you. I just thought you might enjoy some company.” The shadow gestures to the slightly smaller shadow next to him. “I figured we big dog people need to stick together.”


Big dog people? But I thought I was the only one, as in big dog person. Singular. I shift on the bench and squint at the smaller shadow. When the bright spots clouding my vision finally clear, I see a panting dog staring back at me. A very large, panting dog. Not a St. Bernard, but the next best thing.


“A Newfoundland!” I squeal, unable to contain my enthusiasm at finally finding a suitable buddy for Bernard. “I can’t believe it. You have a Newfoundland.”


I offer my hand, palm up, to the shaggy black dog for an introductory sniff. The Newfie responds with a long swipe of his tongue across my knuckles.


“Bear, didn’t anyone tell you it’s not nice to go around kissing strangers?”


At last, I tear my gaze from the Newfie and get my first glimpse of his owner. And, oh my, his shadow didn’t do him justice. Mr. Big Dog has soulful blue eyes and short, thick hair the exact same color as Annabelle’s chocolate ganache. I must say, it’s every bit as mouthwatering as a hair color. I am momentarily rendered dumbstruck, so I blurt out the first thing that enters my head. “Oh, it’s no bother. I don’t mind being kissed. I rather like it.”


I hope to see you at the White Rose loop!

Blessings, Teri

Teri Wilson ~ Romancing the pet lover's soul

http://www.teriwilson.net/

Coming soon from White Rose Publishing:

Once Upon a Collar & Cup of Joe