I Have People
by Lisa Jordan
I was chatting with my good friend Sara a while ago. During our conversation, I mentioned an important phone call I had that week. She commented, "Lisa has people." Of course that made me think of the American Express commercials where Ellen DeGeneres claims she has people.
I'm surrounded by people on a daily basis. The majority of them come up to my mid-thigh and demand things from me, but they're still an important part of my world. My interaction with adults is limited throughout the week, so I get really excited when I get to hang out with the big kids.
Take a moment and think about the important people in your lives. For me, my family tops the list. My parents taught me valuable life lessons. My mother is my biggest cheerleader. My brother and sister are close friends, and I love the spouses they've chosen. My husband is one of my biggest supporters and loves me even on my grumpy days. My boys fill my heart with joy on a daily basis. And I love being Aunt Lisa.
Beyond my family, I have circles of friends—church, my Coffee Girls, my Ponderers, crafting friends, book club, and writing friends. Fellow colleagues have shifted into my Friends column too.
And we can’t forget about the writing friends. In addition to my writing friends, I have a team of people who have helped turn my dream into reality—my mentors, my critique partners, my agent, my editor, my copyeditor, my cover artist, my agent mates and writing friends who are helping me to promote my book, my readers. I have people.
God created us for relationships. We were made to have fellowship with one another, beginning with establishing a loving relationship with Him. He models how we should treat others. Love your neighbor as yourself ring a bell?
Writers spend hours upon hours in fictional words with characters who may feel so real that we wonder why they aren’t on our Christmas card lists. However, we need to surround ourselves with people on a regular basis, and not just our Facebook friends either.
Writing may be a solitary occupation at times, but we were not meant to travel the writing road alone. Attending retreats, conferences and critique groups provides opportunities to chill out with other writers who think it’s perfectly normal to talk to the voices in our heads Being around others has helped me to learn how to live, love and laugh—three essential elements to keep my sanity in check. After all, that’s why I have people.
I'm surrounded by people on a daily basis. The majority of them come up to my mid-thigh and demand things from me, but they're still an important part of my world. My interaction with adults is limited throughout the week, so I get really excited when I get to hang out with the big kids.
Take a moment and think about the important people in your lives. For me, my family tops the list. My parents taught me valuable life lessons. My mother is my biggest cheerleader. My brother and sister are close friends, and I love the spouses they've chosen. My husband is one of my biggest supporters and loves me even on my grumpy days. My boys fill my heart with joy on a daily basis. And I love being Aunt Lisa.
Beyond my family, I have circles of friends—church, my Coffee Girls, my Ponderers, crafting friends, book club, and writing friends. Fellow colleagues have shifted into my Friends column too.
And we can’t forget about the writing friends. In addition to my writing friends, I have a team of people who have helped turn my dream into reality—my mentors, my critique partners, my agent, my editor, my copyeditor, my cover artist, my agent mates and writing friends who are helping me to promote my book, my readers. I have people.
God created us for relationships. We were made to have fellowship with one another, beginning with establishing a loving relationship with Him. He models how we should treat others. Love your neighbor as yourself ring a bell?
Writers spend hours upon hours in fictional words with characters who may feel so real that we wonder why they aren’t on our Christmas card lists. However, we need to surround ourselves with people on a regular basis, and not just our Facebook friends either.
Writing may be a solitary occupation at times, but we were not meant to travel the writing road alone. Attending retreats, conferences and critique groups provides opportunities to chill out with other writers who think it’s perfectly normal to talk to the voices in our heads Being around others has helped me to learn how to live, love and laugh—three essential elements to keep my sanity in check. After all, that’s why I have people.
How about you? You have people? Who makes you laugh? Who keeps you accountable? Who cheers you on when the going gets tough and you want to grab the chocolate?
~*~
Heart, home and faith have always been important to Lisa Jordan, so writing stories that feature both comes naturally to her. She has been writing contemporary Christian romance for more than a decade. Her debut novel, Lakeside Reunion, will be released in November by Love Inspired. Her second novel, Lakeside Family, will be released in August 2012 by Love Inspired. Happily married for over twenty years, Lisa and her husband have two young adult sons. When she isn’t writing or caring for children in her in-home childcare business, Lisa enjoys family time, romantic comedies, good books, crafting with friends and feeding her NCIS addiction.
Bed-and-breakfast owner Lindsey Porter prays she won’t run into Stephen Chase when she returns to Shelby Lake. Five years ago, the cop jilted her to marry another woman, and Lindsey fled town. But no sooner does she hit city limits than Stephen pulls her over for a broken taillight. Despite the past, he’s still able to stir up Lindsey’s old feelings for him. Now a widower and single dad, Stephen recognizes a second chance when he sees one. And he’ll do anything to make Lindsey trust in God and take a risk for love—again. Read an excerpt of Lakeside Reunion.
I’m holding a few different contests to help promote Lakeside Reunion:
Lakeside Reunion Scavenger Hunt
• Download the Lakeside Reunion Blog Hop Scavenger Hunt Form.
• Visit the blogs listed in the table during their corresponding dates.
• Read through the blog post and find the token mentioned within the text of the post.
• Fill out the form.
• Email the completed form to lisa@lisajordanbooks.com by 11:59 p.m. EST November 30, 2011.
• Entries with the most correct tokens will submitted into a random drawing, usingwww.randomizer.org. One winner will receive a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble e-gift card.
• Odds of winning depend on the number of participants.
• Visit the blogs listed in the table during their corresponding dates.
• Read through the blog post and find the token mentioned within the text of the post.
• Fill out the form.
• Email the completed form to lisa@lisajordanbooks.com by 11:59 p.m. EST November 30, 2011.
• Entries with the most correct tokens will submitted into a random drawing, usingwww.randomizer.org. One winner will receive a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble e-gift card.
• Odds of winning depend on the number of participants.
Share your favorite lakeside photo
• Submit your favorite lake photo by 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, October 31, 2011.
• All submitted photos will run on a slideshow on my site and be posted on my Facebook author page.
• Readers may vote for their favorite photo.
• The winner will receive a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble e-gift card.
• Photos must be original, taken by the person who submits it.
• No private information about entrant’s identity will be shared.
• All submitted photos will run on a slideshow on my site and be posted on my Facebook author page.
• Readers may vote for their favorite photo.
• The winner will receive a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble e-gift card.
• Photos must be original, taken by the person who submits it.
• No private information about entrant’s identity will be shared.
Blog Hop
• All blog commenters will be entered into a drawing for the following prizes:
* Grand Prize: Breakfast Basket Giveaway—pancake mix, syrup, blueberry muffin mix, Starbucks coffee, assorted teas, mug, and an autographed copy of Lakeside Reunion.
* Second Prize: Love Inspired Authors basket—autographed copy of Lakeside Reunion & 4 December Love Inspired novels along with a mug of assorted teas, coffees, and hot chocolates.
* Third-Tenth Prizes—one autographed copy of Lakeside Reunion.
* Second Prize: Love Inspired Authors basket—autographed copy of Lakeside Reunion & 4 December Love Inspired novels along with a mug of assorted teas, coffees, and hot chocolates.
* Third-Tenth Prizes—one autographed copy of Lakeside Reunion.
Contest Rules
• With the exception of the lakeside photo contest, all winners will be selected using the number generator at www.randomizer.org.
• All contests begin at 12:01 a.m. EST on October 18, 2011 and end at 11:59 p.m. EST on November 30, 2011.
• Contests participants must be at least 18 years old by October 18, 2011.
• Contest participation is limited to U.S. residents only.
• No purchase necessary to participate.
• The odds of winning are dependent on the number of participants.
• Winners will be contacted via email by Sunday, December 4. Winners have one week to respond to prize notification. If a winner has not contacted me by 11:59 p.m. EST on December 11, 2011, another winner will be chosen. Prizes that need to be mailed will be mailed via USPS within one week of contest closing.
• Winners will be posted on my blog on Monday, December 5.
• All contests begin at 12:01 a.m. EST on October 18, 2011 and end at 11:59 p.m. EST on November 30, 2011.
• Contests participants must be at least 18 years old by October 18, 2011.
• Contest participation is limited to U.S. residents only.
• No purchase necessary to participate.
• The odds of winning are dependent on the number of participants.
• Winners will be contacted via email by Sunday, December 4. Winners have one week to respond to prize notification. If a winner has not contacted me by 11:59 p.m. EST on December 11, 2011, another winner will be chosen. Prizes that need to be mailed will be mailed via USPS within one week of contest closing.
• Winners will be posted on my blog on Monday, December 5.
Ooh, nice, Lisa!
ReplyDeleteThank God I have people. A close group of girlfriends who have been my support and sounding block for almost 50 years. A frightening number and yet it shows their faithfulness!
But oh boy how sweet to have my Inky sisters and these dear writing friends to share this crazy life with!
Thank you for visiting with us today and huge congratulations on this book!
I'm all in for your contest. I have just the lake-side photo for you!
Enjoy the day and the WEEKEND (she squeals with delight...)
My imaginary friends haven't been talking to me much lately. Sigh. I miss them. But I do have lots of real people and have been spending extra time with my kids and parents. My son Jonny, 14, definitely makes me laugh. Adam, 9, is good for cuddling and kissing. Christi, 16, is fun to chat with about almost anything.
ReplyDeleteNow I will have to dig through all my lakeside pictures.
ReplyDeleteSo true about the importance of people. Been feeling a little solitary for the last few weeks--with being sick and hubby traveling. Will try to get out and connect more this weekend.
Lisa has LOTS of people! It was fun to read your post and all those who add color to your life. I couldn't agree with you more, God has made us interdependent on each other. I've thought a lot on that.
ReplyDeleteMy hubby and kids top my list of people. They are my biggest cheer leaders. My family is right up there too. God has given me friends who help me to laugh at myself and at life, who pray for, encourage me. I'm finding a lot of writer "people" entering my life too, as I walk this path. Loving it!
Hi, Lisa. Thank you for visiting the Inkwell and sharing your real and imaginary people. I'm so blessed to also be surrounded by people. Thanks for the reminder of how blessed I am.
ReplyDeleteHey Lisa, with you making such a huge contribution to the My Book Therapy network, I can imagine that you do have people. :)
ReplyDeleteMy people include my husband and 2 teen boys as well as my 2 daughters who've flown the nest.
I also include the Inkies here as my people because they're usually the ones who get the brunt on my emotional upheavals and still accept me.
And my crit parter, Gwen is one of my favoritest people and keeps me accountable.
And I have a local writing group who support me. We try to get together monthly, but sometimes the weather here on the prairies negates that opportunity.
I'm blessed by the people God has surrounded me with.
Thanks for joining us today, Lisa.
Anita Mae.
Thanks Lisa! Great post. I'm so grateful for the people God's put in my life. Blessed beyond measure.
ReplyDeleteHaving people comes from first giving ourselves. I have my Hubby and three sons, my sisters and brother, my in-laws and I like to think a wealth of writer friends whom I just haven't had the opportunity to meet. :)
ReplyDelete