Sarah Price's Blog, page 26

When I last visited with Amanda and Alejandro, I had just learned that I had breast cancer. I was working on Plain Again and, unfortunately, medical “stuff” got in the way of my finishing it for my readers on time. (sorry)

When Plain Again was published on Amazon, I thought I had said goodbye to my dear friends, leaving them to drive off into the night on New Year’s Eve.

But I was mistaken.

Thanks to all of my readers for writing to me—letters, messages, emails—I decided to return to our favorite couple. In fact, I “returned” to my Plain series. So it was quite appropriate to title the first book in the second half of the series Plain Return.

There is something bittersweet about writing about this couple almost four years after they were birthed in my mind. To say that I missed them would be an understatement. All of us who have read and fallen in love with Amanda and Alejandro will understand when I say that they have become a part of my life. I know that they have become important to many of you, too.

So I am very happy to re-introduce you to Plain Return which is releasing on October 20th. Just as I have changed over the past four years, so have my dear friends, Amanda and Alejandro. The evolution of the two characters has been so much fun to create.

And isn’t that what we are looking for? Evolution of characters? We want our characters to grow and change, to learn from their successes as well as their mistakes. Can you imagine Amanda if she had not morphed from the young, innocent Amish girl into the woman that Alejandro calls Princesa? Or what if Alejandro did not tame his wild “viper” ways and remained the immoral superstar who did not respect the women who graced his arm (and bed)?

There is something about both of their past lives that helps carve the future for each other. I suppose it is no different from how our pasts impact our own futures. I look at my husband, Marc, with his amazing life growing up in France and running away to Israel only to live in Iran before escaping the revolution and moving to the United States. There is no doubt that his character was shaped by these experiences and, as a result, have changed me. Likewise, his life has been impacted by my experiences, too.

In returning to the Plain Fame series, I realized that Amanda and Alejandro are such a part of my life that the experiences I wrote about have entwined themselves in my heart. I do not think that I will ever truly say goodbye to them. Whenever I travel to Lancaster or to New York City, I see Amanda (sometimes literally…lol)

Now, in Plain Return, as Amanda embarks on an amazing adventure with her beloved husband at her side, there are more places that will continue to remind me that neither character will ever truly go away from my life.

Plain Return releases on October 20th. Writing this series has been a true labor of love on my part…and I cannot promise that they are gone from our lives forever especially since Plain Choice is the final book of the series with Plain Christmas due out next autumn.

The post Returning to the Plain Fame Series appeared first on Sarah Price.

Blog idea. Blog. Blog, blog, blog.

(sighs)

Maybe if I get more coffee an idea will come…and let the dog out…oh, and check Facebook again.

(stares at keyboard) (sips coffee) (checks hair in monitor reflection)

Blog. Okay.

(looks at ceiling waiting for an idea to fall from it)

Man. My kitchen is a mess. Not a little mess. It’s like—wow—it’s really really bad. Alright. I can blog about my messy kitchen.

Ever wonder how people come up with blog ideas? Well. Now you know my inspiration. You’re impressed, right?

Truth is, sometimes I really am inspired. Sometimes God gives me an idea and I hold it in my head for days developing what I’m going to write. But, there are days, like today, that there is zilch.

Nada. Nothing there. So. Let’s see where God takes this—with me?

Looking around my kitchen, I’m amazed and ashamed at what I see. Let me describe the scene for you.

I’m at my table along with two Bibles, two journals, Crayola markers, a calculator, bills, business cards, and a hoodie. Nothing is neatly placed. It pretty much looks like I picked a pile of stuff up, held it over the table, and then let go.

I hesitantly allow my eyes to move a little farther out and see the trash can—full—overflowing. The dog’s bowls have been pushed out of place and his toys have joined them. Our barstools have become storage units.

The island. Let’s see…four sets of keys have found their way to the island, even though they have an antique key holder in the utility room. The business clipboard is napping there along with my husband’s wallet. Umm…a phone charger, two pair three pair of glasses and more bills—AND leftover cornbread, a bowl of apples and a phone are also taking up residence there.

Yesterday’s clean dishes did not get put away, so yesterday’s dirty dishes are in the sink. Two empty glasses are on the counter along with an empty cup AND a half empty cup that no one (me) bothered pouring out yesterday (morning).

I can see into the utility room, but I will spare you the gory details there.

Looking at it is overwhelming. I’m disappointed in myself for allowing it to get so cluttered and messy. What if someone stopped by? I wouldn’t even be able to hide it from them. But, you know what? I bet if I divide the room up and work on one spot at a time it can be cleaned up, picked up and look amazing. (My husband remodeled this kitchen a few years ago and I truly do love it).

Have you ever looked at your life and thought, “How in the world did I let my life get so messed up?”

Sometimes it can seem that life is such a mess it will never get better. It’s overwhelming. It’s depressing. It’s hard to see past the current clutter and imagine things can be different.

But, the God who created you knows your original blue print. He knows what you looked like before all the “stuff” took place. And, all you have to do is say, “Jesus help me. I need you.” He will step in and start picking up the broken pieces. He’ll take out the trash and sweep up the hurt and pain. It may take a change here and change there. But, if you will allow Him to, He will make something amazing out of your life.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Isaiah 43:19 (ESV) Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

(If you don’t know Jesus, and you would like to, please contact us! We would love to introduce you.)

Lisa Bull sees her life as a journey along God’s divine plan. While considering herself an expert on nothing, she enjoys laughing and has made “choosing joy” her motto. Lisa has experienced God’s unfailing love and grace in her life and wants nothing more than for others to enjoy that same gift in their lives.

Lisa is the daughter and granddaughter of ministers. She has multiple relatives in ministry on both sides of her father’s family including several pastors, pastor’s wives, and missionaries. In fact, ministry in her maternal grandmother’s family can be traced back several generations. She loves being a wife and mother of two terrific young men.

Visit Lisa at Walking Bare Souled in the SONshine and JoyGurls.com

The post So Cluttered and Messy by Lisa Bull appeared first on Sarah Price.

We had a wonderful first live stream book discussion on Plain Fame. I really hope you enjoyed it as much as I did! Two attendee’s won ten dollar Amazon gift cards which we will do again at the next chat. We will be discussing Plain Change, on Wednesday, October 21st at 8:30 p.m. Mark your calendars and join the fun!

During the chat, I was asked if the series will be available on audio. I am happy to announce that they are! Want to win one? Let’s celebrate our successful book chat with a giveaway!

I am giving away an audio book of Plain Fame to one reader who comments on this post.

Comment to be entered, that’s it! For an  EXTRA chance share this post and leave a comment if you do.

Giveaway starts today, Friday, October 9th and ends Friday, October 16th.

*Giveaway is only open to US residents*

About Plain Fame:

Amanda Beiler is a young Amish woman traveling back to Pennsylvania from a visit in Ohio. Alejandro Diaz is a famous Cuban singer living the life in the limelight of international media. Their worlds collide on the streets of Manhattan, an accident that brings them together and, despite their efforts, will not let them be apart. What happens when that bridge is crossed between two very conflicting worlds and two extremely different cultures?

The post Plain Fame Audio Book Giveaway appeared first on Sarah Price.

“Most often it’s those who come without answers or agendas who are the most helpful.”

Just. Show. Up.

Sometimes we just need someone to “be”. We don’t need them to solve our problems. We don’t need them to out “do” someone else. We just need THEM.

I started reading Just Show Up with a lump in my throat. I knew it was about cancer and friendship–and I wasn’t sure I could handle the emotion of it. But, I had promised Jill I would read her special gift–the book she wrote with her now Heavenly sister-friend. So, I dove in, ready for whatever she had in store for me.

I wrote down some quotes as I read:

“Showing up in suffering benefits both sides, and it has to be entered in from both sides.”

“Fear is a lonely companion.”

“Grace is the glue that holds relationships together as we walk through suffering with one another.”

I had a friend suffer through an agonizing battle with cancer. She finally won the battle when she went home with her Savior. Guilt took root inside my heart during her fight as I felt like I wasn’t “showing up” the way I thought I was supposed to. I didn’t feel I gave her what she needed from me. I wasn’t “that” person. But, after allowing the words in Just Show Up to sink in–really SINK IN–I realized I did show up. I showed up in the way I was gifted. I showed up in the way I knew how. I did what I do well. And, looking back, I realize that she had a community of women surrounding her. Each of those women had a special gift, a way they showed up.

Together, we walked the journey with her.

Just Show Up speaks from the heart of Kara Tippetts as she goes through her hard journey and from the hearts of the women who came around her to support her and each other as they worked toward one purpose–Showing Up. Jill gives practical advice on what to say and what not to say when people are hurting as well as how to do what you do well and allow others to do their “thing”.

Just when I thought my heart couldn’t take anymore, Jill would throw in little bits of humor. (I loved that by the way.) I totally could relate when she said, “I’m an introvert (text, don’t call) and I prefer to enjoy my misery alone.” GUILTY! Seriously though, it reminded me that we all deal with hurt and pain in different ways and we need to be open to it. God made us all unique for a reason!

I began the journey with Jill and Kara with a lump in my throat, cautious of where they were going to take me. I laughed here and there and (I have to admit) I cried in the end. This book was healing to my heart.

Just Show Up. It’s about Community. It’s about Friendship. It’s about women loving women. It’s about BEING.

Lisa Bull sees her life as a journey along God’s divine plan. While considering herself an expert on nothing, she enjoys laughing and has made “choosing joy” her motto. Lisa has experienced God’s unfailing love and grace in her life and wants nothing more than for others to enjoy that same gift in their lives.

Lisa is the daughter and granddaughter of ministers. She has multiple relatives in ministry on both sides of her father’s family including several pastors, pastor’s wives, and missionaries. In fact, ministry in her maternal grandmother’s family can be traced back several generations. She loves being a wife and mother of two terrific young men.

Visit Lisa at Walking Bare Souled in the SONshine and JoyGurls.com

The post Just Show Up: Book Review by Lisa Bull appeared first on Sarah Price.

It had been a pretty normal day. I woke up kinda grumpy. Tired. Cold. It was dark. I wanted to stay in bed and hide. But, I drug myself out of bed and started the day. My husband was sick, so he was staying home. For a minute I wished I was sick too so I could stay home. (Truth).

I got on the internet and scrolled through all the moanings and groanings of different people—both the famous and the not-so-famous. I giggled at a few jokes. I finally drug myself off the chair (I drag my body around a lot.) My hair needed to be washed, but I ignored that fact and dealt with the mess as best I could. Make-up was not covering the bags under my eyes. With a sigh, I put everything away, turned out the lights and headed out the door.

It was still dark. I hated going to work in the dark—and the cold—did I say the dark? I did get a close parking place, so that was good. The steps to my office seemed too steep, my office seemed too cold, I had to go make coffee…I sighed again. Life seemed so monotonous. As fresh water filled the coffee pot, I wondered what the day held. Through my rose colored glasses (sarcasm) I envisioned a day filled with cranky customers, office tension and who knew what other pleasantries.

Dragging back to my office (see?) I started the coffee and sat down to work. Soon the customer complaints started streaming in. Tension? Yes. I was tired. I was cranky. I didn’t want to be at work. I didn’t want to hear any more about life being unfair, he said/she said, blah blah blah….

And, then—then—

There was a shooting. People were killed. Christians? Killed for their faith? Young people. Students. Teachers. Souls sent into eternity. Wait. What? And, the world stopped spinning. Again. Another time. More heartbreak.

Perspective.

Does it really matter that my hair has some weird curls? I’m alive.

Does it matter that I didn’t sleep well last night? I’m alive.

Does it matter that she gave me a dirty look? I’m alive.

Does it matter that they are driving too slowly? I’m alive.

Does it matter that I hit every red light? I’m alive.

Does it matter that your boss drives you crazy? You’re alive.

Does it matter that your house if filthy? You’re alive.

Does it matter that your husband was late? He’s alive.

Does it matter that your kids are arguing? They’re alive…

What is important? Why do we care so much about the small stuff that we allow it to ruin our day, our week, our month, and our lives? Personally, I think Satan just sits back and laughs his head off at us. He has found that distraction is a powerful tool. He distracts us with all the little pieces of junk and we allow them to fester and grow until they become cancers inside of us. And, generally, they really don’t matter.

What’s important?

ETERNITY

Does whatever we are so upset about have eternal value? Is it going to matter in eternity? In many, maybe most, things in our lives we have choices. We don’t have a choice as to our circumstances but we do have a choice regarding our reactions to them. We choose to hold on to anger. We choose unforgiveness. We choose to allow the little things to get under our skin. Choices.

Perspective. Do you understand what is important–REALLY important–and what is not?

2 Corinthians 11:3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

2 Corinthians 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Lisa Bull sees her life as a journey along God’s divine plan. While considering herself an expert on nothing, she enjoys laughing and has made “choosing joy” her motto. Lisa has experienced God’s unfailing love and grace in her life and wants nothing more than for others to enjoy that same gift in their lives.

Lisa is the daughter and granddaughter of ministers. She has multiple relatives in ministry on both sides of her father’s family including several pastors, pastor’s wives, and missionaries. In fact, ministry in her maternal grandmother’s family can be traced back several generations. She loves being a wife and mother of two terrific young men.

Visit Lisa at Walking Bare Souled in the SONshine and JoyGurls.com

The post Perspective by Lisa Bull appeared first on Sarah Price.

Such an exciting week! Not only did the Waterfall team re-release the Plain Fame series and we had an amazing two day book launch ( YOUTUBE), but on October 1st, my first traditionally published Christmas book, Secret Sister, is being released by Realms (an imprint of Charisma).

Admittedly, it’s hard for me to get into the Christmas mode. I still am wondering what happened to summer! I think I went to the pool one time and I’m not certain that I even went into the water! It was a busy summer between Cat preparing for her Youth Mustang Challenge and Marc preparing our new Flanders horse farm. All of us were busy. Very. Busy.

But isn’t that the story of life?

Often we get so busy that we forget to take a moment and simply live. Or, better yet, enjoy living.

That’s the basic theme of Secret Sister. Grace Beiler has recently become widowed and she is struggling with the fact that she had not taken time to enjoy living. Now that her husband has passed away, she is wondering what’s next? Slowly she realizes that she can take the time to reflect on her life and, despite her concerns that life has passed by too quickly, she begins to recognize how rich her life truly was. And can still be!

This year, to celebrate Grace’s journey to this discovery—one that we should all make!—we are doing a Secret Sister giveaway. There is a simple form on my website (CLICK HERE) that you can fill out and nominate a friend to be your secret sister. If selected, both of you will win a beautiful gift basket.

How much fun is that?

A few people will be runner-ups and receive smaller gifts…just because so many people are signing up. We wanted to include more than one winner in the giveaway.

So I hope you take a moment to join the contest.

And remember to take a few moments to live life instead of pushing yourself too hard. 

This week marks a major milestone in my life. Yesterday, the first three books in my Plain Fame series, were re-released by Waterfall Press (an imprint of Brilliance Audio which is owned by Amazon Corporate).

For those of you who are not familiar with this series, the story follows the most unlikely of relationships: a young Amish woman and an international superstar, Alejandro Diaz (aka Viper).

They meet under unusual circumstances in New York City when Alejandro’s limo accidentally hits her outside of Madison Square Garden. As she recovers in the hospital, Alejandro begins to feel that she is his responsibility. Consequently, a very endearing friendship begins to develop.

The idea for this book came to me when I was walking to work in Manhattan one day. We all have celebrity crushes and mine just happened to be performing in Rockefeller Plaza on this particular morning. Rather than going to see him perform, I had to go to work. Someone made a joke to me that maybe I’d get lucky and his limo would hit me.

The lightbulb went off in my head.

Ideas can come from the most unlikely of places and the most unusual of times. This was definitely true of the Plain Fame series.

The original series went viral and immediately climbed to the top of Amazon’s bestseller charts. With almost 1000 combined reviews, the series was widely received. Now, thanks to Waterfall Press, the books have been redeveloped and repackaged with distribution bringing it to bookstores and online for new audiences to enjoy.

I welcome your thoughts and comments on this exciting series as well as comments as to how Amanda and Alejandro have impacted your life. For me, they have changed everything. I know that even the impossible can happen…and with a lot of faith, there is nothing that God cannot do.

Where to purchase The Plain Fame Series:

The post Book Review: Plain Fame appeared first on Sarah Price.

Writing novels is something that I have always loved to do. Creating characters and putting them into different situations and settings, breathing life into them so that they begin to tell me what they want to do…it just doesn’t get any better than that for me.

There are days that I write for hours…ten or twelve…maybe even longer. I can become so engrossed with a story that I lose track of time.

There is a hazard, however.

Sometimes you fall in love with your characters and they become such a part of your life that you simply hate to say goodbye.

That is what has happened with Amanda and Alejandro from my Plain Fame series (which is re-launching at midnight on Tuesday!).

These two people (see? I called them people, not characters!) meet each other under the most unlikely of circumstances. As individuals, they are as polar opposite as you can get. She represents all that is plain, good, and simple while he represents worldliness and success on steroids. To watch these two characters come together and slowly learn from each other, drawing on the others’ strengths so that they meet in the middle, was a fascinating study in psychology for me. Making it believable was also just as exciting.

And it wasn’t easy.

When I first wrote Plain Fame, I knew that the idea was farfetched. But I tried to write it in such a way as to be believable to the readers (as well as myself!). Even the most unusual of situations can be believable if the writing is done well.

Sometimes I meet people and, when they learn that I write, they begin to tell me about how they, too, write. Well, that goes without say. We all write, don’t we? Throughout the day, we write lists, Facebook posts, emails, and text. At work, we write memos or letters or proposals. Writing is one of the first things we learn in school, along with reading.

Sitting down to craft a novel, however, requires more than just writing. It takes knowledge of psychology, anthropology, religion, politics, history, and sociology (to name a few areas of study). Logical transitions between paragraphs is also very important. And it has to be believable.

Sometimes other authors ask me to read their books. While no one is perfect, it does speak volumes when the books is riddled with errors and typos and mistakes and inconsistencies. Part of the requirement for “more than just writing” is editing. Word processors are just as naughty with auto-correct as your cellphones. I’ve seen some really funny errors in other people’s manuscripts—published at that!—that I’m fairly certain comes from not re-reading their own work. It’s distracting, to say the least.

I’m so happy that Amanda and Alejandro were adopted by my publisher, Waterfall Press, an imprint of Brilliance Audio. The new covers and multiple rounds of editing have, hopefully, polished up the books so that the readers can enjoy their story the way that I intended…one page at a time.

The post Why I Love Writing appeared first on Sarah Price.

I am excited for the release of Secret Sister: An Amish Christmas Tale on October 6th. Let’s celebrate!

Is there someone special that you would like to be a secret sister to? Now is your chance. One lucky reader will win a basket full of goodies for themselves AND one for a friend!

A few of the items include:

• Metal star ornament

• Real Amish headscarf (hunter green)

• Devotional

• Four Amish Recipe Cards

• Candle

• Amish and Mennonite Holidays By Sarah Price

• Sarah Price wristband

• Additional Surprises

After years of giving of herself to her family and community, Grace Beiler, an elderly Amish woman, faces her first Christmas since losing her husband of fifty years to his battle with cancer. With her children grown and moved onto different communities, Grace is feeling more than a little depressed.

She begins to reflect upon her own life and wonder if she has properly fulfilled her promise to be a servant of God. As Christmas draws near and her depression becomes stronger, she starts receiving little gifts in the mail and left on her doorstep. She realizes that she has a “secret sister,” but has no idea who it might be, for each gift seems to relate to a different event in her life. Each gift causes her to reflect and remember important moments. Just when she thinks she might have figured out who the secret sister is, a new gift arrives with a different meaning.

The post Christmas 2015 Secret Sister Giveaway appeared first on Sarah Price.

I walked up the ramp toward my office door, thankful that it was Friday. I’d made it through another week. Always the first to arrive, I knew I’d have to unlock the office door for the day. With my bag full of books in one hand and coffee in the other, I awkwardly held my hand toward the knob. I had a free finger, so I pushed the “unlock” button.

Nothing.

Why wasn’t the door unlocking? My “I’m-still-fuzzy-brained” mind tried to figure out what was going on.

Door is locked.

Key is in my hand.

Pointed the key toward the knob.

Pressed “unlock”.

Hmmmmm…

(Remember the old V8 commercials where they hit themselves in the head? Imagine that right now, only I didn’t have a free hand to hit myself.)

Ahhhhh! Problem solved. “THIS door is not my car. Therefore, my “unlock” button on the CAR KEY won’t work on my OFFICE DOOR. I should probably try the office KEY,” says short blond girl to herself.

I literally giggle out loud at myself. (Come on. It’s FUNNY!)

Do you ever feel like nothing works out for you? Do you feel like you’re stuck where you are? You can’t seem to more forward? There’s more to life, but you can’t seem to find a way to get there?

Maybe you’re pressing the wrong button.

Maybe you need to use The Key instead.

Are you relying on your own understanding? –Your own talents? –Your own abilities? Ooooops! Those would all be the wrong buttons.

You need to find The Key.

The Key is your Heavenly Father. He is the One who can open doors for you. He is the One who knows the direction you need to go. He sees your future and knows what lies ahead. Quit trying to push buttons and force things to happen that may be harmful to you.

Pray.

Read the Word (Bible).

Trust Him.

Give you worries and your future to Him.

1 Peter 5:6-7 (MSG) So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.

Lisa Bull sees her life as a journey along God’s divine plan. While considering herself an expert on nothing, she enjoys laughing and has made “choosing joy” her motto. Lisa has experienced God’s unfailing love and grace in her life and wants nothing more than for others to enjoy that same gift in their lives.

Lisa is the daughter and granddaughter of ministers. She has multiple relatives in ministry on both sides of her father’s family including several pastors, pastor’s wives, and missionaries. In fact, ministry in her maternal grandmother’s family can be traced back several generations. She loves being a wife and mother of two terrific young men.

Visit Lisa at Walking Bare Souled in the SONshine and JoyGurls.com

The post The Key by Lisa Bull appeared first on Sarah Price.