Nano Countdown 2012

I don't know about you, but I am ready for this years Nano are you? I have actually got my novel outlined, and I am ready to delve into Edge of Ruin. I always start out this way though, on fire to start, but somehow I always barely make it to fifty k perhaps a little higher by the end of the month, but I am aiming for about seventy k with this novel, and I am going to be busy writing.
Tomorrow I have errands to run, and will be getting little things like that done, but other than that I plan on buckling down and writing. I can't wait.


Tonight I will be going with Fran and Ethan trick or treating though, which should be fun, other than the fact I have a cold, but its a cold I am sure I will survive LOL!!!


Mikey wont be going because he left for sixth grade camp today, where does the time go? I can remember when I went to sixth grade camp, never mind how many years ago LOL!!!
Well I hope you will be joining me in the fun of Nano this year, my fellow writing buddies, until next time!
God Bless
Michelle!

On The Closing Of Hope Center

It has been a crazy few months in both positive and negative ways I have settled in to my little studio and am quite happy with that but on a negative note Hope Center closed its doors a week ago Sunday.

I am going to miss the time with the kids but I have my writing to focus on and the boys of course.I'm trying to look at this on a more positive note but the truth is whenever a church closes it does bring a measure of grief.

In the meantime I have several works in progress going on and will be taking part in nano this year as I have for the past five years. I have also decided it is time to focus more on the publicity aspect of my writing and I have more time to do that now so I am going to focus on creative but inexpensive ways to reach others with the words God has placed upon my heart. I know that this blog is one way to do that so I want to be a little more real regular on my postings here.

I hope you'll join me in this journey through the writing life and be blessed with the words the Lord has given me to share with others.

Michelle Kidwell

In the Center of God's Will?

I was having issues with my health last night, mainly pain, in my lower back and Kidney areas, so because I could not sleep, I found myself doing a little reading, and one of those books was a Beth Moore book, and this quote just popped out at me, kind of like a spiritual slap on the face I guess...Not all hardship is caused by sin. sometimes difficulty comes smack dab in the center of Gods will. Beth Moore

I was having one of those why me moments the other day, because the pain level was so great, and the fact is I am no stranger to pain, my pain tolerance is fairly high.  I live with Myopathy and a Neuromuscular disorder but this was more intense than anything I had ever felt, it kept me awake for a good portion of the night, I found myself crying out, even angry at God.  I tried to serve him, I did my best to live the Christian life, oh the good Lord knows I am not perfect I tried, but the pain, wow the pain.  At that moment I felt like the only one in pain.

I am sure none of you have ever felt that way.  You are all strong Christians, who have never asked the Lord why right?


It was a night later when that quote from Beth Moore came at me, reminding me of God's will for my life, and to remind me that I am not the only one who struggles, who has her physical problems, I am not perfect but I serve a perfect Lord, and despite the pain I lead a blessed life.

I am only human though, and I have been accused of having some kind of Pollyanna complex, and the truth is I try to remain positive, but I am not some kind of Super Christian who goes through life without troubles or tribulations.

A Nations Tragedy (Aurora Colorado)

I could be blogging about my word count, or my current work in progress but in light of the tragedy in Aurora, I find myself reflecting and praying over that.

I can not get the images out of my head, images of bloodshed in a movie theatre of all places.

We go to the theatre to escape to have some enjoyment, and though I may not agree with every movie that comes out, as an American and as a Christian that is my right, but I also do not feel like this is the time to place blame on someone in Hollywood, we need to focus now on making sure the victims get the justice they need.

Twelve dead, among them an up and coming sports caster, who narrowly escaped a shooting in Toronto Canada, two months prior.

Jessica wrote this in one of her blogs, words in her blog dated June.5th words that I think we should all take to heart,


I say all the time that every moment we have to live our life is a blessing. So often I have found myself taking it for granted. Every hug from a family member. Every laugh we share with friends. Even the times of solitude are all blessings. Every second of every day is a gift. After Saturday evening, I know I truly understand how blessed I am for each second I am given.

Jessica Redfield/her working name is only one victim, a victim who was given her face, many we do not even have a face or a name for, because families still have to be notified.  Funerals have to be planned.


Who knew that in America, going to a midnight premiere could suddenly become punishable by death.


I woke up this morning hearing the news wondering at first if it was some movie playing, but it was real.  All to real.

God Bless
Michelle~

Visons of Grandeur

Perhaps like me when you first began thinking that perhaps you would publish books, you dreamed of that mansion on the San Francisco Bay, but truth be told for me it has always been about more than that, I knew that my stories, my words make a difference, that I somehow spread a message.

I began writing stories a few years before I gave my heart to Christ, I was still very much a child then.  At fourteen I suppose you are a child, but I watched myself grow as a writer, and I watched my dreams grow too.

After having seven books published though, and still not having that mansion on the San Francisco Bay, or better yet a log cabin in my hometown.  I think I like the sound of the later better.  I would get lost in the curves and turns of San Francisco, but regardless as a writer I barely scrape by.  Without my faith, and that burning sensation inside me that tells me to write, to say what I need to say, to use my words to draw each other to the Lords.

On some of my writing I try to step out of my comfort zone.  Finding Star, deals with abuse, molestation, rape, but more than that it is a story of redemption.

And the Alexei Series, the four that are published, all deal with things that perhaps some Christians would not touch, but I touch them in a way I feel God would want me to.  I often find myself praying as I am writing, and more often than not I incorporate verses from the Bible.

I know that I am a professional Author, but now more than ever I know what that means, it does not mean the words always come easy, that I don't sweat and cry over them because I do, but when someone reads my words and tells me they are touched in someway, even when someone points something out that I need to change, I feel good about what I am doing.

Sometimes Life Throws You Curveballs

Well friends I know Independence Day has passed, but I have not blogged since the end of June, so I pray everyone had a safe and blessed Independence Day, and I pray that everyone took the time to think of what truly was sacrificed so we could have our freedom.  Freedom is never free, remember that, their is always a cost, but in Christ we have the freedom we may not have otherwise.

I have been writing of course, slowly working on the final revisions of Finding Star, I am hoping to have it available for the Kindle by Christmas and in paperback, maybe even hardcover sometime after that, but just when I think I am getting ahead life throws a curveball, but some of those are good, some not so good.

I am first and foremost a Christian, a Child of God, and then I am a writer, so I try to make sure my writing has a message in it a Christian message.  I want to reach others for Christ.  As a writer I am also a reader and just this past Friday I believe it was I purchased Lisa Buffaloes delightful book Grace for the Char Baked for my Kindle, and when it comes back in paperback I am going to purchase that as well.

Good Night and God Bless
Michelle~

When Words Reach the Soul and Other Gifts!!!!

I would not be the person I am today, if it were not for the people in my life.  I am blessed with a family that I love, and I happen to have another passion working with Children.  I have nieces and nephews and friends kids, all whom I love to spoil, and all who in turn give me inspiration to write.

Words are my passion, but I would not have that passion if it were not for my faith, and the fire that he put inside me.  Even before I gave my heart to Jesus he gave me a gift, the gift of words.  I must admit my earliest stories were nothing to write home about, at least not the first drafts, but I was able to resurrect a few into something readable.  I always seemed to have my mind spinning though.

I write because I want the next generation to fall in love with words the way I did, I want them to have that love affair with books, the way I did.  I mean there is such an amazing feeling, when you know someone is holding a book with your name on it, and you pray, you pray hard that you are conveying a good message.

I love writing, and I love that the Lord uses that gift to help me reach out to others. 

 I love when my words somehow touch others.  When my words reach to a soul.

I write because God gave me that gift, and I am going to continue writing, and I pray that I help others reexamine things, with the words I write.

God Bless
Michelle~