Wordless Wednesday!

Tall Ship race in Ireland!

Moving Forward with God

Do you ever feel like you're just not making any progress in life?  I'm not talking about the things the world considers progress like career, money, success, marriage, kids, retirement account.  I'm talking about progress on what matters, on your character, your morality, your temper, your kindness, love, generosity, self-sacrificing,   self-control--all those things that make a person a true success in life, a true hero.

I've met countless Christians who've known the Lord for years, yet they are still struggling with the same old problems. They still struggle with addictions, with anger, jealousy, gossip, etc. They try and try and try and yet it doesn't seem that God is changing them. He's not renewing their mind. In essence they keep sailing around the same old island, round and round, and they never make any progress.  But why?

Christian brothers, I could not speak to you as to full-grown Christians. I spoke to you as men who have not obeyed the things you have been taught. I spoke to you as if you were baby Christians. . .You still live as men who are not Christians. When you are jealous and fight with each other, you are still living in sin and acting like sinful men in the world.  1 Corinthians 3:1-3

Last week we talked about how we must have our mind renewed in order to discover God's path for our lives. In order to stop sailing around in circles!  But that's easier said than done, isn't it? That old sinful nature coupled with Satan's tricks can be a very powerful pull in our lives!  So, how does one have their mind renewed? How does one allow God to change our sinful character?

May I submit my theory from experience? It's really quite simple. Not easy, but simple. Obedience.

Ah, come on now.. I can hear some of you moaning, some of you rolling your eyes, and others shouting at me "But I am obedient!"  How do I know what your'e thinking? Because I thought the same thing. Then I asked, no I dared, God to show me any area of disobedience. (Note to self: Don't ask if you really don't want to know)

Unfortunately, He answered my challenge. Turns out there were lots of little areas in my life where I wasn't being truly obedient. I wasn't being disobedient, I just hadn't gotten around to doing what God asked me. :-)  You know the little things I'm talking about: things  like telling someone the truth about something, apologizing to someone, calling that person who needs a friend and showing love, disciplining a child, admitting a wrong, going out of my way to show someone I care, talking to a neighbor or friend about God, volunteering at the nursing home...  all those things that we know in our gut God has asked us to do. But we haven't done them yet. Why? Because they are HARD.  They are hard to do. They cause us pain. We flat out don't want to do them!


The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!  Matthew 25:21


The problem is, God's not going to change us, He's not going to just zap us and improve our character. The only way to change character is to go through tests and trials. God gives you a test and then He waits until you obey to promote you up a step, where he gives you another test, then He waits patiently for you to obey before He promotes you again. And so forth and so on!  Building the Christian character is a series of steps. It's just that some people are still on the bottom rung!

Want to know what the steps are:

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 


For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins  2 Peter 1:5-9

So what do you say? Want to find stop sailing in circles? Want to find God's will for your life?  Trust and Obey. 

Win THREE free books or an Amazon Gift Certificate!

CONTEST is OFFICIALLY OVER!  Thank you all for entering.

Winners are: Caroline McAllister, Micah Widdis, Amanda Davis, Heather Manning, Teresa Matthews, Kelli, Jennifer Whitney, Tracy Cooper, Faith Hope and Cherry Tea, and Barb Hudson!!

I'm have a huge contest to try and bump up my fans on Facebook and also gather more Newsletter subscribers!

I'm giving away TEN 3-book prize packages. Yes.. that's ten lucky winners! The books will come from my awesome collection of wonderful reads that I'm sure you'll enjoy!  They are all new Inspirational Romances.








Here's all you have to do to enter

• Sign up for my newsletter at my website
• Like MaryLu Tyndall: Swashbuckling Romance on Facebook
• Share MaryLu Tyndall: Swashbuckling Romance on Facebook
• Share MaryLu Tyndall: Swashbuckling Romance on Twitter
• Like any of my books at Amazon
• Like any of my books at BarnesandNoble.com
• Write a Review on any of my books

Your name will be entered for each thing you accomplish. That's 7 times your name could be entered. 

Also, when I reach 750 "Likes" on my Facebook Fan Page, I'll be selecting FIVE names who will each receive a $20 Amazon Gift Certificate!  So, tell your friends!! 

When you accomplish any of the tasks above, please either leave a comment on this blog post or send an email to marylu_tyndall@yahoo.com with your name, email, and precisely what you did, and your name will be entered the appropriate number of times. Sound good?

Will you help me??  
Contest ends Friday March 23rd!!!! 

Tis a Writer's Life for Me! - Marketing!

Hey everyone, check out the new tabs at the top of this blog! Each one leads to a separate page that has all kinds of cool info on my individual books, including character pictures. Let me know what you think!

This week I've taken some time off from writing and worked on the dreaded, the insidious, the revolting and disturbing job of Marketing! Can you tell I don't like marketing?  Hey, if I wanted to sell things, I'd go back to working retail at a Christmas shop in Tennessee.  But I digress.

We authors have the internet and the invention of "Social media" to blame for this sudden overwhelming burdensome responsibility of "talking up" our books to any and every Sally, Jane, and Elma, sailing around on the cyber waves!  This includes but is not limited to:  Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, Blogging, Google Plus, Linked-In, BookClub Networks, Gather, Myspace, Ning, Mylife and the new fish on the block, Pinterest!

And No, I'm not on each of those listed. There's only so many hours in the day! I mean, my real job is to write compelling stories that will keep you up at night. (In a good way, that is) And believe me, that is a full time job! So, that doesn't leave much time for all this other stuff. Frankly (and can I be frank with you?) I'm not very good at this social media stuff. In truth, I'm a introverted, social-inept hermit who would prefer to stay in my cave all day and night. Just the word, Social, causes hives to break out over my body.


If you feel the same way, yet you have a need to get out there and have your message heard, then here's some tips that have worked for me.

• Be consistent on your blog. Blog every week or on certain days and stick to a schedule so your followers know what to expect on what day when they visit your blog. (On this blog, I do a devotional on Monday, A Cool Picture on Wednesday, and Something about Writing on Friday)
• Be consistent in your Tweets and your posts on Facebook and don't use them to advertise yourself. Use Facebook to get to know other people. 
• In fact, it's important to approach Social Media not as a marketing tool but as a way to get to know a lot of different people. 
• Think of something you have to offer your "social" contacts, whether it be something instructional, something inspirational, something fun. That's why I do a devotional on this blog every Monday and something instructional every Friday. It's important to offer something of value to your social followers. 
• Gather a group of devoted friends/followers who will help spread the word about your books or whatever it is you're selling. This takes time and energy developing this tight group as you get to know people on these media sites. 
• And last, but not least, think of your interactions with others as a ministry not marketing. Jesus said "Give and it shall be given unto you"   Even though you may be trying to sell something, in God's economy, it's important to give freely first without any expectations and leave the results up to God.

That's what I try to do. I will use this blog and my Facebook to help promote my books from time to time, but the majority of the time I hope and pray you find it a comfortable safe place to come, get to know each other, be encouraged, and maybe learn something too.  I've made several great friends in the process and I love you all so much!!  Thank you for dropping by my blog and my facebook and all the other areas out there!  I treasure all your comments and your friendship!


Speaking of friendship, look me up on Twitter! I just joined!

So, what are your thoughts on Social Media? What do you use it for? Have you made new friends? Do you enjoy hearing what others are doing? If you are trying to sell something, has it worked?  Or are you one of those people who'd rather boil in oil than be social on the internet?  I'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, opinions and if you have any suggestions on how a true introvert can use these social outlets better.

Wordless Wednesday!

Abandon Ship!

How to find God's Will for your Life!

Plotting your course!

Early in the age of exploration, navigating the vast seas was no easy task! Without modern radar and satellites, captains were left with only the stars, the sun, and a few crude instruments.  As time went on maps were created, although they often were inaccurate. Most sailors came to rely on landmarks at the beginning of their journey. For instance if they sailed due east from the Canary Islands, they reached Africa. If they sailed due west, they reached the Bahamas. This type of navigating came to be known as "Dead Reckoning"

I wonder how many Christians navigate their lives by dead reckoning? They start off from the point of salvation and think they are heading in a certain direction where God wants them to go, but somehow along the way, their compass broke, the winds and waves shoved their ship off course, or perhaps they got distracted by the beauty of some passing shore and stopped for a rest. Either way, they are now wandering all over the seas in search of the course they should be taking.

I believe God does have a unique path for each of us! A path and purpose He created for us from before the world began. Some specific thing or things He needs us to do which requires our unique bland of talents, desires, and gifts.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart  Jeremiah 1:5
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future  Jeremiah 29:11

But how do we find that plan? Maybe your ship is foundering among the vast seas and you have no idea where you are going or where you should be going. You truly want to fulfill God's plan for you but you have a broken compass and the stars aren't shining and all you see head of you is endless water!  But did you know God gave us a compass that would never break? He gave us a waterproof map. It is His Word. And in it, we find specific directions on how to discover His will

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

Okay.. so if you'll be able to test and approve God's will for you, then let's assume you will know God's will for you, right? So how do you come to know it? By allowing God to transform your mind!  And did you notice that His will for you will be good, pleasing and perfect? Do you know why it will be good, pleasing and perfect? Because you were made precisely for it!

For example, God made me a writer. But I never knew that until after I gave my life to Him and truly allowed Him to change my heart and mind. (Took years, and still is a Work in Progress, by the way)

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him  Philippians 2:13

Okay, so maybe you've giving your life to God, maybe you've been walking with Him for years and you still feel like you're adrift at sea, tune in next week when I hope to show you how God transforms your mind and why some Christians never seem to make any progress.

Pulling a reader into your story

Yea!! Celebrate with me! I've finished Draft 2 of Escape to Paradise!  Now all the chapters and scenes are in place and the writing is almost perfect (Well, as good as I can get it, that is) In the next phase, I read over the entire manuscript (all 105,000 words)  and polish and tweak and make it glow!

But for now, I need a break from it so I've spent the week on marketing, which is a whole other topic on which you don't want to get me started!  Speaking of started, I also started a garden in my backyard. Well, I planted the seeds anyway, so I'll keep you appraised of that.  But now onto my topic.

Let’s face it, we live in a video-crazed society. Whether we are in the mall, at a restaurant, in our dentist’s office, even driving down the road, we are constantly bombarded with images. We can even get internet and TV on our cell phones—though I’ve yet to figure that one out. But the best of all video experiences is still, in my opinion, the movie theater. Even though we can watch movies at home, Americans continue to spend billions of dollars a year on going to the theater. There’s nothing like sitting in a dark room with a screen that is larger than life, surrounded by sound that is so crisp and clear and powerful that it even makes the floor shake. (And let's not forget the popcorn!) Why do we go? Because it makes us feel like we are right next to the hero or heroine—like we are a part of the adventure.

How can we possibly compete with that in the written word?  Well, the answer is maybe we can’t, but there are some things that writers can do to spark our reader’s imagination to such a degree that they can have nearly the same experience as if they were watching a movie. Maybe even better! 

Here are some tools the writer can use to pull the reader in and keep them in!
Emotion
Vivid Description that connects to the character or story
Conflict/Tension
Fascinating characters
The Senses

Today we will talk about senses. Sight Hearing Touch Taste and Scent

To engage the reader, I try to use of as many of the five senses that I can in every scene. My Point of View character (the character in whose head I'm in) must not only tell us what he or she sees, but what they feel, what they hear, what they smell, and where possible, what they taste. This will engage all the reader’s senses as well, making the experience seem more real.

Secondly, when using senses, don’t just list them, as in “she smelled flowers, she felt cold, she saw a bird in the sky”, make them a part of the action in the scene. This is critical in achieving the reaction that you want in your reader. Make them feel, hear, see, and taste what it is like to be standing right where your character is standing.  For example, below is a scene out of my second book in my pirate series, The Reliance. The heroine, Charlisse has just been tossed into a cage in the hold of a pirate ship. I have added a few sentences to prove my point.

Charlisse clung to the bars. The icy chips of iron dug into her skin. She winced and released her grip. The mighty rush of the Caribbean against the thick hull slammed against her ears, drowning out all other sounds. Forcing back tears, she scanned the room as her eyes grew accustomed to the darkness. Familiar shadows that lurked in the bottom of the ship began emerging like demons preparing for an assault. She drew a deep breath and immediately regretted doing so. Human waste, moldy wood, rotting food attacked her, strangling her breath. Gasping, she pressed a hand to her churning stomach where remnants of her breakfast rose and soured in her mouth.  

Did you feel as though you were down in the hold of the ship with her? (Don't answer if you said no) As you can see, I used touch (icy iron bars) sight (darkness and shadows), smell (you can guess this one. Yuk) and taste (sour food) to describe the scene, by incorporating them into the action of the scene. The icy iron bites her skin, the water slams into her ears, she scans the dark room and evil shadows emerge like demons, she takes in a deep breath and the stench attacks her, the food in her upset stomach rose and soured in her mouth.  Having the particular sense attack the heroine is another great way of incorporating its use. In your story, have the frigid wind stab her skin, or the dark clouds cover her with gloom, or the perfume sting her nose.

And lastly, when you are using the character’s sense in a scene as part of the action, use that sense in such a way as to invoke emotion. One of the best ways to keep your reader in a scene is to grab a hold of their emotions.   In the paragraph above, I underlined the verbs associated with all five sense. What sort of reaction do these verbs invoke in you?  Happiness? Comfort? Joy? Absolutely not. Our character is terrified, hopeless and all alone, and we don’t have to tell the reader. “Charlisse feels terrified, hopeless and alone.” Do we?  Through our use of “active” senses, the reader not only knows this, but he or she “feels” it as well. And that’s the effect we are striving for in our writing.