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| My beautiful friends! Fact: My arms are crazy long. This photo emphasizes said fact. From left: Alena Tauriainen, Gabrielle Meyer, Long-Arms Tagg, Lindsay Harrel |
Last week I spent four-almost-five glorious days in Little Falls, Minnesota, for a writing retreat. First, let me say I fell in love with the place. So much history in one small town! We got to tour the Weyerhaeuser and Musser mansions and Charles Lindbergh’s childhood home. Charles. Lindbergh. (I have a slight fascination with flying planes…sooo, I was a happy girl that day.*)
BUT even better than the coolness of Little Falls was the company: Lindsay Harrel, Gabrielle Meyer and Alena Taurianen…three amazing writer friends who I just love like crazy. We brainstormed to our hearts’ content.**
And as we did, I kept thinking, I am in the company of writers whose books are going to blow readers away. So I decided my blog readers need a sneak peek, and invited all three to be today’s guests. Read on to learn more about my beautiful friends and their upcoming projects…
Lindsay Harrel
How I met her: I met Lindsay online last year when she sent me the sweetest email after coming across my blog. I think our friendship was pretty much of the instant variety. A few months later we became craft partners.
Book Title: One More Song to Sing (contemporary fiction with romantic elements)
Premise: Washed-up country singer Faith Phelps dreams of starting her own record label. When she discovers newbie Ellie Evans at an open mic night, the girl seems the perfect choice for face of the new label. Ellie’s always wanted to be a star, in part because it’s her passion — but also because she secretly hopes the mother who gave her up will see her and be proud. What will happen when Faith realizes Ellie is her daughter? Will she listen to the cadence of fear or fight to make both of their dreams come true?
Thoughts on our retreat/group: When I first started writing, I thought I had to do everything by myself–and to some degree, obviously, if I don’t work hard or apply my gifts, then nothing will ever happen in my writing career. But what I didn’t know was that I wasn’t meant to go this writing thing alone. At first, I thought it made me weak to have to lean on others for brainstorming and, frankly, my sanity (I’ve been talked off many a ledge!)–but other times, and this week in particular, showed me that God put me here, with these blessed friends, for a reason.
Because I started off just wanting to write fiction, but these women have challenged me to do more, to be more–they not only make my stories better, they make ME better through their love, encouragement, and loyalty. They have taught me so much through their actions about who Jesus is, and I cannot thank the Lord enough for their companionship on what I hope will be a lifelong journey.
Gabrielle Meyer
Premise: In 1917, Reid Marshall is a famous pilot, barnstorming across the United States, in search of the fortune that has eluded his family for generations. Lydia Walker is the daughter of a wealthy lumber baron, restrained by expectations–with a dream to soar above the clouds. When Reid is forced to halt his nation-wide tour to come home to Minnesota, he isn’t prepared for his foolish past to confront him…in the form of an enchanting young lady who asks to fly.
Thoughts on our retreat/group: I’m different than Lindsay. From the beginning, I desired a group of writer friends who I could lean on. I’m an extrovert by nature and I’m energized by others. I often tell people I can’t think unless words are coming out of my mouth, or flying off my fingertips, which often leads me to saying too much…but that’s an entirely different blog post subject. I love bouncing ideas off people.
How I met her: Alena and I met at the very first MBT storycrafting retreat. Since then, we’ve had the fun of being roomies at ACFW and serving on the MBT core team together. Also, she has a secret room in her house behind a bookshelf…which is kinda the coolest thing ever.
All right, readers, I’d love to know: Who are the friends who believe in your dream?
*Someday I’ll blog about the time I got to fly a plane. Started with a random phone call from a pilot…ended with one of my very favorite experiences as a reporter.
**My friends helped me brainstorm a new series which I’m ridiculously excited to write!
Comments 29
Thank you for hosting us today, Melissa! It’s fun to keep the party going on your blog. 🙂 Thank you for your help in brainstorming Enchanting Lydia Walker–it’s a much better story now that you, Lindsay and Alena have put your fingerprints on it. Can’t wait to start writing this story!!!
Praise God for friendships and writing buddies. 🙂 I can’t wait to hear your flying story!
Oh your story is going to be SO good, Gabe. And I loved getting your (and Lindsay and Alena’s) input on my new series. I’m pumped about it…especially the historical angle. AHH, it’s going to be so fun. Thanks for being such a fabulous host last week. 🙂
I the three for the price of one 🙂 Can’t wait to read all these books in print! I have some sweet friends who believe in me, many who I meet through my blog. I need to grow more into sharing my work though. Sometimes the doubts sneak in.
You know, Lisa, I still struggle to share my writing even with some of my very closest writing friends. As my CP, Lindsay, knows, I tend to want to clean up a book forever-and-ever-and-ever before I’m willing to let her see it. Haha! But there is something so good about getting fresh perspective and new eyes on a book.
Melissa,
We had so much fun. I burst out laughing thinking about the wood ticks incident and my kids thought I was crazy.
Thanks so much for hosting us today, but really — thanks for being my friend with the longest-arms-ever! Lol!
Oh the wood ticks. The squealing. The running. See, it’s stuff like that which makes for good stories. It’s worth going through the freakout for the storytelling aftermath, in my opinion. 🙂
AND I am very privileged to be your friend with the longest arms ever. 🙂
Sounds like a fantastic time. Glad for you all.
Thanks, Dee. It really was wonderful and oh-so-needed. I’d been pushing hard toward a deadline, so the chance to kick back and brainstorm something new was just a blast. 🙂
Hi Melissa! I can’t believe I’m only just discovering your little piece of the world wide web! You better believe I’ll be a return visitor.
My parents and sister are my first supporters when it comes to my writing. The authors and agents I’ve met through blogs and facebook have encouraged me greatly. I’m looking forward to the day when I can say, “I’m published. I’m really published!”
Blessings,
Andrea
Yay, I’m glad you found this space, Andrea! Fun to have you. My parents and siblings are big supporters as well. I love that my parents have always believed in me…that’s huge. And I look forward, too, to the day you get to say, “I’m published.” It’ll happen! 🙂
Thanks for your encouragement, Melissa! It means a lot to me that other authors are so willing to say a nice word or share ideas. When I first started writing, I wrote screenplays and found that the pros weren’t so friendly to outsiders. What a relief I felt when I jumped onto the novel bandwagon! I’ve felt so welcomed from the beginning and have really enjoyed meeting so many writers and agents via social media.
Thanks, Melissa …these sounds awesome. My family, especially my Mom is my biggest supporter, but I have a few close friends who are too.
Yay for supportive family and friends. What would we do without them, yeah?
Great post. Looks like you four had a blast! All the stories sound fantastic! And I count your four among the friends who encourage me.
And YOU are one of the friends who encourage me. OH, Pat, I saw the cover for your debut novel on Relz Reviewz yesterday. I got the hugest smile on my face. SOOO happy for ya, friend, and I can’t wait to read your book!
Wow! Thanks, Melissa. I didn’t know it was there. It is so exciting to see your cover and people commenting on it. *Fanning*
What a fun time you guys had! It’s fun to read the stories you’re each working on. I love when God brings people together to encourage and spur each other on. I look forward to reading each of your books!
Thanks, Jeanne…I can’t wait to read each of their books, too. After dropping off Alena and Lindsay at the airport on Sunday, I couldn’t stop thinking about how blessed I am to have all three of them in my life.
You truly ARE blessed! Each of you. 🙂
What a delight x 3! And I love the books y’all are writing!! Most of all, I loved that red Jeep photo that showed up in the blog posts of two of these gals last Monday. Oh, yeah, made my day!
Oh the red jeep. You know, I’m pretty sure I need one now. Possibly the best way to travel ever. Yay for Gabe’s husband loaning us his wheels. 🙂
Love that y’all got to do this!
Can’t wait to read all of those novels 🙂
I can’t wait either, Laurie. I’m working to show restraint in not emailing all three of them saying, “Hurry up and write your books!!”
Woohoo!! Thanks for having us all here today, Mel. As you know by now, you’re one of my biggest supporters and I just plain couldn’t do this writing journey without you by my side. I count it a privilege to walk this road with you!
And YOU are one of my biggest supporters. It’s weird to me to think there was once “life before Lindsay Harrel.” I mean, really, what did I even do with all my writer moods and schizophrenic plot moments before you? Even more, who in the world did I text all day long?!
It’s super important for me to have people around me who will encourage me in my dreams, because I have a big potential for self-doubt. Sounds like you girls had a great time!
We did have a wonderful time! People who encourage our dreams are so needed, I agree. 🙂
Totally jealous of the good times you guys had. 😉
I got to attend my first getaway/retreat in May (as you know) and I didn’t realize how MUCH I was going to fall in love with such retreats and brainstorming. I mean really? Pretty much pure bliss with my Alley Cats. COMPLETELY different than attending a conference…although that is great too. But totally different level of meeting a need.
Love to hear about the ladies’ stories! I’m excited to see you all at ACFW!!
Yes, just from the short couple hours I spent with you all at your May retreat, I could tell you girls were having a blast. It was fun to see you all!! And you’re right…it’s so different than a conference. I love both, but there’s just something about that small group dynamic that’s SO fun. 🙂
Can’t wait to see you at ACFW!