Show Me the Way Back to Your Heart by Brian McKnight (good inspirational music for writing)

Through Angel's Eyes - Behind the Note

      Years ago, seemingly so far away now, I was shopping downtown. Walking on the sidewalk, I was stopped by a man.
      "You are so beautiful!" he told me.
     I was stunned. I was very, very flattered. And then I thought to myself, "Shouldn't you be saying these words to your wife if you're married. I'm sure she would love to hear that. It would make her day."
     He proceeded to tell me, "Don't ever accept anyone's wooden nickels."
     To me, that meant that you are too beautiful and too special to ever be mistreated, to ever accept "bull"/crap, to ever accept anything but the very best that a man can give/offer.
                        Note:
A wise man once told me to accept no one's
wooden nickels,
But how was I to discern a cunning spirit and an
unwilling heart?
How was I to know that what looked
Fine, Handsome, and Irresistible
Could devastate and wound to the core?
     I can't tell you who the man was. I don't remember him in particular, didn't really know who he was. But his words left an impact, provided me with the inspiration to begin the lines for Through Angel's Eyes. What I do know is that the man never made a pass, never "came on " to me. He was the perfect gentleman with something wise to impart.
     I thought of naming the novel, No Wooden Nickels, but a friend asked, "Arsoleen, what does that mean?" So I thought maybe that's not so good a title; come up with something else!
     Many of you may remember that the title was originally My Brother's Heart. I loved that title.
     All in all, with perfect timing and patience, the title became Through Angel's Eyes! Aptly named. Now that is Perfect!!

Summer Time

     Summers are so much fun. Some days are warm, hot, rainy, lazy, and simply beautiful! It provides time for us to spend with our friends and families. I'm thinking of cookouts, hiking adventures, walks, and just sitting and swinging back and forth on your porch swing, enjoying a cone of ice cream. Summer is the perfect time to bring out a juicy, sweet watermelon - cut a slice and enjoy! Just relaxing and watching cars zoom past is also perfect bliss.
     When I think of summer, I also think of vacationing with the family, with loved ones. I want to see and view new sights together, sample something new and tasty that I've never tried before. Where are you vacationing this summer? Leave a comment and share it with me.
     Which brings me to summer reading! Summer is the right time to read and relax at the beach, to sit back and enjoy a book right in your home when all is quiet and supper's all done, when the kids are busy doing their own thing, or maybe when they're quiet in bed asleep, you can pull out Through Angel's Eyes or Perfect Love! Have you read these books yet? Give me a try! This is my personal invitation to you! I promise you won't regret it.
     To read a sample of my work, check out my short story on my website at arsoleenwoolcock.com. The short story's title is "One in a Million." It is one that I wrote several years ago, and I finally pulled it out and touched it up just a bit. Leave me a comment. I want to hear from you!
     Have a blessed, safe, and enjoyable summer!
Much Love,

Arsoleen Woolcock

   

Fourth of July

Fourth of July

            During the 4^th of July holiday sitting amongst family and friends, a very intriguing question came up. If, given the opportunity, a person could go back in time to twenty years earlier, would you do it? What changes would you make in your life? What would you do differently – provided you had the wisdom and knowledge you now possess? Maybe you would turn a negative situation around to positive. Maybe you would say something another way. Maybe you’d rather not meet someone you’ve met. . .

            By an overwhelming majority, most said they would not desire to go back. I thought the odds would have been different.

            Two days passed with the same question posed again. The ladies said they would go back provided two things were in place: the ability to change and make a difference mattered, and the knowledge they knew now had to be there! Otherwise, no one wanted to go back to repeat the same thing.

            Go back twenty years! Yes, if given the magical opportunity to do so, I would do it in a heartbeat. Just imagine yourself with twenty years washed away from your life – that would mean pounds lighter; tiny lines and traces of wrinkles smoothed to a more youthful appearance; heartaches and pains that had your stomach twisted in knots erased and not remembered. . .

            If given that opportunity, I would turn back the hands of time!!

Through Angel's Eyes Slideshow(3).mp4

Ramdom Thoughts Straight From the Heart

The Princess
     I thought I was talked about! Talk about a conversation piece! For the last couple of months, it has been Kate Middleton, perhaps one of the loveliest and most envied of women in the world of late! (After all, she was marrying a prince!) What kind of gown would she wear - long sleeved or short? Would she wear a hat? Would she learn a lesson from Diana and wear a gown that would accentuate and not hide her figure?
     Well, a lot of Americans woke up before the break of dawn to watch the spectacular event (the wedding, of course!) on TV. One of those early risers was me. Yep! (Since I'm stuck at home in a purple cast from elbow to fingers. . . left hand. . . and I'm typing this post one finger stroke at a time. . . will I ever get it done?) Needless to say, if you didn't watch the royal wedding, it was extraordinarily beautiful - Kate's hair; her tiara, something borrowed; her gown, whose bodice actually accentuated her streamlined figure; the magical coach ride as she and Prince William waved to the adoring crowd, some of whom camped out for days to get a good spot in which to see the royals up close. Something that formed a lump in my throat, though, was when Prince William whispered to Kate that she was beautiful! Ah-h! Such is the stuff of fiction, but that was real life! Men, if you're reading, take this opportunity to tell the woman in your life that she is loved - that she is beautiful. I bet you'll be amazed at the response you get!
      Anyhow, sometimes I feel like a princess myself! My husband cooked a very delicious meal, (Did I mention that I was picking my teeth?), served it to me with his royal hands, and asked me what I would like to drink. He served me an iced cold drink and placed it royally before me! Wow! (I'm going to be a spoiled princess by the time all this is over, with the cast, I mean!)
      Anyhow, the Bible does speak about not coveting that which doesn't belong to us. People, let Kate have her man! (Young Camillas, find your own prince!) Royals, if you're reading this (Yeah, right!), I truly hope your lives together will be as beautiful and magnificent as your wedding day!

The Rain
      Why is it that no one loves the rain anymore - nobody but me and the farmers? Well, I get why some people don't - those who paddled away from their homes recently because of flooding. Let us pray for those families and for others in need. Many of us are truly blessed. We were nestled safe and sound in our homes while earthquakes and tornadoes ravaged lives and destroyed the homes of many.
      Now as I listen to the rumble of thunder in the distance, preparing for the onslaught of the precious rain, I'm curling up under a light, airy blanket with Through Angel's Eyes! Now that's a good book!

Getting on my Soapbox
      Yeah, I can remember when interstate highways just opened! People got on the interstate, happy to drive like they were flying an airplane! Oh yeah, I remember! Yours may have been one of the vehicles whizzing past me as I crept along at a near snail's pace called the minimum speed limit.
      Every chance I get, I try to tell my children to drive safely and cautiously on the interstate. (Now that does not mean they're listening!) Just because the opportunity is there to drive seventy doesn't mean you have to. There's no need to act like we're rescue workers racing to to put out a fire! And to some people I know, that also means you get to drive seventy-five!
      Umm . . . wait a minute while I slow down on this interstate! And to think that I'm speeding along at eighty miles an hour in a purple cast, all while typing this post with one finger!

Trying!

     I am truly trying to join the ranks of other published writers! I do have this blog (Thanks for stopping by!) and now my very own website! But it is still under construction but will suffice until I learn more about how to design and manage it. Check it out at arsoleenwoolcock.com! If you have some advice for improving or know the technicalities of it, do share! See you and happy reading! Through Angel's Eyes is available! I need you to discuss the book with me and share your opinions about it all!

On Writing
     Did I ever say that I truly love writing? Well, I do. Here is a top 10 list of things I truly love, in no certain order!
 1. Writing
 2. My family
 3. Reading
 4. Books
 5. More writing
 6. Friends
 7. Writing (How did you guess?)
 8. My grand-daughter
 9. My laptop
10. Last year's gas prices (Man, when will we see some relief at the pumps?)
(Is that hail coming down. . . sounds like popcorn popping in a giant popper! Back to Through Angel's Eyes and my comfy, light, airy blanket in a comfortable position on my couch!)

***On a serious note, thanks to my children for helping out with typing as I make my online presence known!

See y'all, hopefully, on next week for the next post! Bye!

   

Perfect Love

          Perfect Love is my first published novel. The feeling I had when I finished the book was indescribable. I jumped up from the computer with a warm, delicious feeling of accomplishment nearly bursting in my chest! From my lips escaped a loud shout of glee. I flung open the doors and ran outside! I can remember screaming and feeling like I could touch the sky. I remember my children jumping up following me outside trying to catch me as though we were playing a game of tag. That memory and that feeling will stay with me forever like a buried treasure.
          When I wrote the book, I knew there had to be conflicts, but I wanted the man, the hero of the book to be like someone I'd love to know - someone honest and kind and faithful. No matter what happened, I wanted him to stay true to the relationship with his wife. That hero was Will. With his wife Cleotyne, a singing superstar who gallivanted all over the globe, Will faithfully stayed home and cared for their daughter. His love for his wife only grew stronger, never fading with time. That's love!
          If you have read the book, what impression did it make? If you haven't, I want you to read my first published baby, Perfect Love!
          Please leave me a comment! (Don't be shy!!) I really want to hear from you!

Through Angel's Eyes

          Through Angel's Eyes is finally ready for the public, and I couldn't be more excited!! The book was previously titled My Brother's Heart. However, the look and the book's  title was changed. This book was really completed back in 2008, or was it 2007? Time flies when you're having fun! What a long wait, for as for me, it takes six months to write a book! Being a teacher with just the summers to devote to writing, that translates into three summers!
          The idea for this book came about when I thought it would be so great to see my brother in a wonderful relationship with a great girl who was crazy about him. I put my imagination to work and VOILA! Another novel! I do want to add that that's how the idea arrived, but then the idea took off with a mind of its own. Hence, any resemblances to anyone alive or dead is purely coincidental.
          Back to my brother - I must say that in real life, he's got the girl - someone warm and caring and loving! You rock, Clara!!
          I think this book speaks to the heart. I especially want women readers to take notice. Men, I wouldn't dare think of leaving you guys out. I think every reader can come away with a lesson learned. Most importantly, I hope that readers will feel a whole host of emotions from beginning to end. Readers, let me know what you think!!!! I write for you!!
          I want to write for everybody - for people of all races and cultures. I want to be a master storyteller! (Okay, maybe that is in my dreams, but a girl can hope! Right?)
          Read the book. Let me know what you think!
                                                                   Arsoleen Woolcock