What A Daughter Learns: An Ana Alexei Mystery (Possibly)

Just when I thought I had put the Alexei to bed forever (The Marishka Tanya Alexei Series) The final book in that series was published Sept.2011, something funny happens, Ana Alexei the middle daughter has her own story to tell, I had no idea it would happen this way, I figured if anyone would have a story to tell it would be the oldest daughter Vania, but no it is Ana who is speaking to me.

It was around Thanksgiving I realized Ana was speaking to me, and when a character speaks you should listen. 

(Speaking of Thanksgiving I hope all of my Americans friends had a wonderful thanksgiving, I know I did, but please no more turkey LOL)

Ana I have been writing Ana's story for the past few days now, in this book she is all grown up, longing for a family of her own, but it would seem the good Lord has other plans for her.  Perhaps in the future, but I don't want to divulge to much.

Like most of the books in the previous series, What A Daughter Learns is the start of a kind of spin off series, this book is full of twists, and turns, and unexpected things.  Secrets are revealed, perhaps secrets that were better kept, well Secret!

In the next few weeks i will be posting little snippets of what's going on with the Alexei family as well, as information on where you can order the books in the Marishka Tanya Alexei Series, A Sisters Justice, Deception Beneath, Burried Truths, and Shadows From Our Past!!!

In the meantime I would like to wish you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS, because as a Christian I refuse to take Christ out of Christmas, and a Wonderful New Year!!!

God Bless
Michelle~

From the Land of Wrimo 2011

the Land of Wrimo (2011)

I just completed my Nano novel today, closing it out at 70,138 The novel I did this year The Scent of Summer a ya novel about a young girl coming to terms with an accident that changed her life forever, but she discovers too that with Faith, and the support of loved ones. Just as the simple act of writing this Nano novel took the support and understanding of my family, allowing me the hours on the computer when I could be doing other things, like housework which despite everything I have managed to keep semi under control. I have also managed to spend time with the boys, and work on outlining another story, not Nano related called Desert Rose, so I have been keeping myself busy. It seems last year I was barely making Nano's goal so itfeels good to have made my goal a week and a half ahead of time this year.

I will at least not have to be pushing myself on Thanksgiving, and Black Friday, which happens to be my birthday this year, and no I really have no intentions on sitting around in some line waiting for a great discount on some electronic. I plan on spending the day relaxing spending time with my family and friends.

Michelle R Kidwell

Food For Thought...Could Anyone Make Me Stop Writing

A fellow writer and friend on facebook asked this question today, Could anyone make you stop writing?  And the question got me to thinking of all the reasons why I write, and how it would take nothing short of God himself to tell me to stop writing.  Their are of course days my creativity doesn't flow, that the words take longer to come than others, but many of the days when the words flow and something clicks I know that God has called me to write for a special reason.

For me my writing and my faith intertwine, I am a born again Christian, and I say this without shame or embarrasment, because the truth is I would not be who I am without the Lord.  Now don't get me wrong I am not perfect, either as a writer, or as a Christian, or as a person in general, but I serve a perfect Lord and for that I am thankful.  Just as I am thankful for the fact that I have this gift of words, and I use that gifts whether I am writing Christian Mystery, YA, or Non fiction to get a message out, and that message is, none of us is perfect, and bad things can and do happen, but it does not change who God is.  It does not change what Christ did for us on the cross.

I will continue to write, for as long as the Lord gives me the words, no one person can tell me to stop writing.  Because telling me to stop writing would be like telling me to stop breathing if I did not write, even if I suffer from a block for a short period of time something inside me seems to shrivel up.  Something that God releases and lets blossom when I am writing. 

So as for the question, can anyone tell me to stop writing, the fact is yes they could tell me, but that does not mean I would do it.  I would not stop writing if anyone short of God himself told me to stop.

God Bless
Michelle~

Shadows From Our Past Release!!!!!

Very excited to announce Shadows From Our Past is now available for order

http://www.publishamerica.net/product44213.html

Shadows from Our Past: A Marishka Tanya Alexei Mystery: Book Four

Product Details. ISBN: 9781462635535. # Pages: 206 pages. Dimensions: 6x9. Format: Softcover. Latest News: Product Description "Will they ever stop running from the Shadows of there Past? The Ale...

One Whirlwind Summer

This has been a busy summer to say the least, some good and some bad..Sadly my Moms best friend went home to be with the Lord, she is with Jesus now, but how this came about is rather confusing and conflicting, so I am not going to say much about that, except to say rest in peace Marlo, I know your with Jesus.

Before we knew exactly what happened to Marlo I had author photos done for my soon to be released book Shadows from Our Past...The Fourth book in the Marishka Tanya Alexei Mystery series.  Thank You Melody of SMPhotos for a beautiful job on these pics!!!

I am currently working on another Christian Mystery tentatively entitled the Price I Pay, while waiting for Shadows from Our Past to be released in the next few weeks. 

Down to the Wire

I woukd rather be doing about anything else than sitting here wondering if Aug.2011 will mean the end of my disabilty benefits, I am a freelance author yes with seventh book going into publication, but right now I am waiting and praying that Monday comes and my check is deposited, because though I am an author i could harldly say at the moment I am making a living at it though I of course long for that ability.

Family: Some of My Inspirations!

My nieces and I, my friend Frans Son couldnt be left out so hes hanging on my back LOL!  My niece Amber next to me in the blue, is also a young inspiring writer.

My Nephew Steven In My Lap

Childrens Church, these kids inspire me to write as well!!!

I am inspred by the children in my life.

My Faith and Writing Intertwine

I must say reading Joyce Caroll Oates published journals kind of saddens, me because she has such a one sided negative view of Christianity in them.  People tend to think that we as Christians lump everyone into the same category, but comparing all of us who believe to others has the same effect does it not?

Don't get me wrong I respect Joyce Caroll Oates as an author, she has made a great name for herself, and she has done alot for woman authors, has helped to break alot of stereotypes, but at the same time I feel stereotyped as a Christian, and it goes way beyond that journal and her, I guess at times we are all guilty of lumping people into one category.  I don't think that is the way it should be, but it is the way it is.

I guess as a writer, you grow a thick skin when it comes to criticism about what you write, but having your very faith criticized by someone you don't even know that's a different story all together.  I guess some of you may wonder why I am going on and on about faith on my writing page, but for me my writing and my faith intertwine.  It has been my faith that has gotten me this far, and continues to carry me, don't get me wrong, I do not look at it as some kind of magic button, I worked hard over the years, but it has been God that has given me the strength to work this hard

A Single Step

They say each journey begins with a single step and that is true in writing to, but the funny thing is I do not remember exactly when that step began, though I know it began long before I had my first book published in 2003, it began probably when I held the first book in my hand.  At three years old I learned to read, the Cat In the Hat was a constant companion then.

In Kindergarten I was told I was Dyselxic but that didn't slow me down from reading, nor did it slow my desire to write later.  I think I wrote my first story at the begining of high school, but I wrote before then, bits and pieces of stories, poems, whatever.

I love to write, and I love living life, my friends, my family, all of them inspire me to write, encourage me in their own ways.  I am glad that I have that encouragement and the faith that sees me through!

In Christs Love
Michelle~