I know. I know. Many of you think it’s way too early to start celebrating Christmas. But I’m on a roll and wanted to let you know.
November is often known to writers as National Novel Writers Month. This will be my third year to attempt to write 50,000 words in a new book in the month of November. I succeeded the last two years.
I’ll be working on the fourth book in the A Second Wind series, and this one will be all about Christmas! I’ve wanted to write a Christmas book for years.
Will you support my efforts? One way you can do that is by joining my email newsletter where I’ll give updates on my progress and occasionally ask for your opinion on scenes where I need some help. You can join my newsletter by visiting my website at www.barbarahaleybooks.com or by simply sending me your email address as a private message. I promise not to ever give your email address out or inundate you with emails. Ha- I’ll be too busy writing!
Before I close, I’ll let you in on a secret. There will be a character in this book who is grieving the loss of a dear one. I’ve been there. My sweet hubby died just days after Christmas seventeen years ago, and God has healed my heart in so many ways. One of the biggest is that I once again love Christmas.
The first Christmas after Greg died, I asked the Lord, “Will I ever love Christmas again?”
Immediately the answer came. “Barbie, stop thinking about what Christmas was, and think about what Christmas is.
Wow! I listened. And obeyed. I intentionally stopped obsessing on what I could no longer have and started creating new memories. Reframed the season, in a way. I’m not saying I chose to forget the past or stop grieving the loss. That would not have been healthy. But I didn’t stay stuck there. And now, all these years later, I can honestly say that I am very happy with my life. In fact, it’s like God has given me two lives to love … and that’s another book for the future.
Anyway, I want to include experiences like the one above in my book and allow God to show His love to my character in the same way. And perhaps, somewhere, a reader who is aching inside will realize how much God loves her, too.
Because that’s why I write.
Today's the Day!
Barbara E. Haley
11/3/2024
God Has Great Ideas!
Barbara E. Haley
10/10/2024
A Ticket to Ride
Barbara E. Haley
4/29/2024
Why I Write . . .
Barbara E. Haley
4/24/2023
A New Morning Awaits!
Barbara E. Haley
3/5/2023
A Peek at my Biz 3 Book
Barbara E. Haley
3/1/2023
When Bad Things Happen to Good People ...
Barbara E. Haley
2/20/2023
"Love is ..."
Barbara E. Haley
2/13/2023
Read Between the Lines
Barbara E. Haley
2/5/2023
Just because . . .
Barbara E. Haley
1/29/2023
When Bad Things Happen to Good People
Barbara E. Haley
1/23/2023
Ever Been Visited by a VIP?
Barbara E. Haley
1/15/2023
God-Moments
Barbara E. Haley
6/8/2019
When Life Happens!
Barbara Haley
1/23/2019
Great Deals for Christmas!
Barb Haley
11/24/2018
Guardian Angel to the Rescue
Barbara E. Haley
9/16/2018
Biz On the Go Now Available!
Barb Haley
6/10/2018
Nothing Compares!
Barb Haley
4/5/2018
STUCK in your Comfort Zone?
Barb Haley
2/5/2018
There's a Song in the Air!
Barbara E. Haley
12/15/2017
When you think you're finished, and then . . . God!
Barb Haley
8/6/2017
Those Branches HAD to Go!
Barb
5/30/2017
Eight Years Later ...
Barb
1/9/2017
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Barb
12/16/2016
O Holy Night
Barb
12/15/2016
A White Christmas
Barb
12/13/2016
We Wish You a Merry Christmas!
Barb
12/12/2016
We Three Kings
Barb
12/11/2016
Birthday of a King
Barb
12/10/2016
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Barb
12/9/2016
Hallelujah Chorus
Barb
12/8/2016
Joy to the World
Barb
12/7/2016
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Barb
12/6/2016
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Barb
12/5/2016
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Barb
12/4/2016
Angels From the Realms of Glory
Barb
12/3/2016
Silent Night
Barb
12/2/2016
A Closer Look at the Christmas Carols
Barb
12/1/2016
When Prayers Take a LONG TIME to be Answered
Barb Haley
10/19/2016
Anybody Up for a Bit of Transformation?
Barb Haley
9/24/2016
Diving in the Wind
Barb
8/16/2016
Because I Can!
Barb
7/12/2016
Baby Steps
Barb
6/30/2016
No Help From Me
Barb
6/12/2016
Day One: Do I Need a Blindfold, Lord?
Barb
6/10/2016
Depression? I'd Kick It if I Could
Barb
6/9/2016
God Has Our Backs
Barb
2/8/2016
The Winner Is...
Barb
11/30/2015
Sample sections from A Second Wind
Barb
11/28/2015
Has Anyone Heard From the Lord Lately?
Barb
9/13/2015
The Emotional Strain of Chronic Pain
Barb
9/8/2015
Why does God test us?
Barb
1/29/2015
Inciting Incident-What?s That?
Barb
9/1/2014
Act One?the Ordinary World
Barb
8/24/2014
Tell Me the Story of Jesus
Barb
8/14/2014
Story or Plot?
Barb
8/8/2014
True Light
Barb
4/15/2014
Words of Love Last Forever!
Barb
7/19/2012
Alzheimer's-Not the Only Way to Let Go
Barb
7/9/2012
The Hunger Games
Barb
6/26/2012
What Would God Say?
Barb
6/13/2012
Keeping It All Inside
Barb
6/3/2012
The Rest of the Story
Barb
5/29/2012
Trust and Obey
Barb
5/25/2012
Hidden Dirt
Barb
5/22/2012
One Layer at a Time
Barb
5/17/2012
Welcome!
Barb
5/15/2012
