Welcome back to the trail ride!! It’s Day 6, and we are traveling north to Canada.
Mark Bierman is the author of Vanished. I read this book many years ago, and I still think about it. The subject matter is child trafficking, and it’s something that goes on daily around the world. Mark’s book tackles it in a gripping and realistic way. As I read it, I had to keep reminding myself the story was fiction. That’s how real it is. Mark also has an entertaining blog and is generous in his support of other authors. I am deeply grateful for his hospitality and for hosting Saddled Hearts on tour! Once you pick up your copy of Vanished, head on over to the blog tour!
Meanwhile back to the tour. There is a scavenger hunt that will run throughout the tour.
Hidden within the blog posts are clues you will need to look for. The theme is “Things You’d Find On A Ranch.” When you find these clues, email your answers to me at SaddledHearts@gmail.com With CONTEST In the subject line. The person with the most correct entries will win a $25 Amazon Gift Card! The runner-up will receive an eBook of Saddled Hearts! It Pays To Play!
The link to each blog post will be listed here with comments closed. I’d be thrilled and honored if you’d saddle up and ride along with me as we traverse the blogging world!
It’s Halloween! It is a time when the veil between the worlds is thin and provides an opportunity to commune with loved ones. How do you do that? Just call out to them in your mind and then look for signs all around you. Perhaps a windchime will inexplicably chime, or a song will come on the radio that meant something to you both, you may have a visit in a dream, or you’ll find a random feather in an odd place. Signs can come in all sorts of ways. Anyway, Happy Halloween!
Here’s a short meditation to help get centered and get the week started off on a positive note.
This is a very powerful sequence of Tarot cards. Take a look!
To have a King and Queen next to each other amplifies the meaning greatly!
The King of Cups represents mastery over the realms of emotion, creativity, and the unconscious. When this card turns up in a Tarot reading, you have gained control of your feelings and can accept them without allowing them to get the better of you. If you are being challenged personally, the King of Cups suggests you need to remain emotionally mature when faced with negative energy from others. Be firm on your personal boundaries, stating what is and is not acceptable on an emotional level. The King of Cups embodies the perfect balance between the executive and the heart. Not only are you able to assess and manage a situation logically, but you can also draw upon your intuition and understanding of human interactions. The King of Cups is compassionate towards others, creating strong bonds and relationships based on patience and understanding. As you interact with others, you may need to navigate their strong feelings and emotional triggers so you can create a sense of peace in your interactions.
When you see The Queen of Cups in a Tarot reading, you are embodying her ‘nurturing mother’ energy. You support others by listening with your heart, being compassionate, and caring for them deeply. You are empathic and can sense the needs of others by tuning in to your intuition, and you hold the space for others to express their emotions and be the truest, most authentic versions of themselves. You have mastered this in such a way that, even though you hold space for emotional expression, you don’t take on other people’s energy or emotional issues because you are well-grounded and know where to create a healthy separation. The Queen of Cups says you are highly intuitive, creative, and in flow with the surrounding energies. In your interactions with others, you can easily read other people to get a sense of how to communicate effectively, enabling you both to feel heard and understood. In your creative projects and endeavors, you ‘feel’ your way into them, trusting your heart and your inner guidance to lead you in the right direction. You know when something is ‘off,’ and you pay attention to this, even if it doesn’t make rational sense. You may be in tune with the cycles of the moon and nature, using these cycles to manifest your goals and live your dreams.
The Strength card speaks to the inner strength and the human spirit’s ability to overcome any obstacle. Strength is about knowing you can endure life’s obstacles. You have great stamina and persistence, balanced with underlying patience and inner calm. You are committed to what you need to do, and you go about it in a way that shows your composure and maturity. Your strength gives you the confidence to overcome any growing fears, challenges, or doubts. Feel the fear and do it anyway! If you have been going through a rough time and are burnt out or stressed, the Strength card encourages you to find the power within yourself to persevere. You have got what it takes to see this situation through to its eventual end. You’re a loyal friend and a solid supporter, willing to step up and be present when others are in need, and you might also feel compelled to hold space for someone who needs your strength and support.
MY TAKEAWAY:
There is a perfect balance of emotions between the King and Queen of Cups. The King is a master of personal boundaries and can handle any situation with compassion and firmness, while the Queen is the nurturer. However, she is no pushover. She can also help charge creative endeavors while The Strength card gives you exactly whatever you need to get through any struggles.
I am not sure how this applies to me today. I have felt out of balance for a few days, so maybe it’s the nudge to get my emotions and priorities in order. I love it when The Strength card shows up anytime! It’s always welcome. How about you? Give me your thoughts on this one. It’s powerful!
And now for our little dragon. I have no idea if I’ve had this one before, but it doesn’t matter. It’s quite exquisite!
Today will be a little different than my regular Friday posts. Comments are closed as I am traveling south to Seguin, Texas for their annual Pecan Festival where I will set up with my books. It’s a five-hour drive, and I won’t have great internet access.
However, I am also at Story Empire today with another blog post on book marketing. I’d be honored if you’d hop over and take a look. Have you ever had any luck getting your books into a bookstore?
Secondly, I was a guest on the Fresh Ink Group podcast this past Wednesday, and we had so much fun. Beem Weeks and Stephen Geez are great hosts! We even played some of Rick’s music. I hope you will take a minute to listen to the replay!
Thirdly, I will be back next Friday with an interesting conundrum about mushrooms. 🙂
It’s already Day 5 of the blog tour for Saddled Hearts, and we are stopping off at two places today. Thank goodness they are both in the western part of the U.S. for our horses’ well-being 🙂
Mary Morgan is a fellow Wild Rose Press author, and she is one of the most supportive people I know. I became an immediate fan when I read her first book in the Wolves of the Clan Sutherland series, Magnar. Inspired by her love for history and ancient Celtic and Norse mythology, her tales are filled with powerful warriors, brave women, magic, and romance. I highly recommend her work! She resides in Northern California.
Then, just next door in Arizona, we are visiting with a long-time friend and fellow Story Empire colleague, Gwen Plano. She is truly the kindest and most caring soul I’ve met on this author journey. The first book of hers that I read was her touching and inspiring memoir, Letting Go Into Perfect Love. It took bravery to write that book, but I know it has touched many lives. She now writes thrillers. You can find those books here.
Meanwhile back to the tour. There is a scavenger hunt that will run throughout the tour.
Hidden within the blog posts are clues you will need to look for. The theme is “Things You’d Find On A Ranch.” When you find these clues, email your answers to me at SaddledHearts@gmail.com With CONTEST In the subject line. The person with the most correct entries will win a $25 Amazon Gift Card! The runner-up will receive an eBook of Saddled Hearts! It Pays To Play!
The link to each blog post will be listed here with comments closed. I’d be thrilled and honored if you’d saddle up and ride along with me as we traverse the blogging world!
I have something a little different to share today that isn’t a regular blog tour stop. N.N. Light’s Book Heaven has posted a review for Saddled Hearts that I want to share. I am over the moon from the kind words. I’d love it if you’d take a minute to go over and share. I know her site isn’t always easy to leave a comment on, but any and all shares are appreciated. Here is the link: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/post/saddled-hearts-br
Our regular tour will resume tomorrow with not only one but two stops!
And don’t forget to participate in the scavenger hunt. Things You’d Find On A Ranch is the theme, and there are clues included in each blog post. So send in your entries to SaddledHearts{at}gmail{dot}com!
Hidden within the blog posts are clues you will need to look for. The theme is “Things You’d Find On A Ranch.” When you find these clues, email your answers to me at SaddledHearts@gmail.com With CONTEST In the subject line. The person with the most correct entries will win a $25 Amazon Gift Card! The runner-up will receive an eBook of Saddled Hearts! It Pays To Play!
The link to each blog post will be listed here with comments closed. I’d be thrilled and honored if you’d saddle up and ride along with me as we traverse the blogging world!
I am thrilled to be a guest on the Fresh Ink Group Blog Talk Radio podcast today, Wednesday, October 26th at 7 pm CST! And I’d be honored if you’d tune in. You even have the opportunity to call in and chat! Let’s do this!
Welcome to Day 4 of the blog tour for Saddled Hearts!! I hope you picked your favorite horse and are dressed for a trail ride because we are taking off, although we’ll have to load our horses onto a boat for this stop.
Harmony Kent is such a talented writer. I’ve read several of her books and am amazed at her versatility. Her poetry is so expressive. I loved her latest book, Life And Soul, is the perfect example of her poetic abilities. But she’s also written in many other genres, from erotica to sci-fi to writing tips. She’s also an accomplished editor and a Story Empire colleague. I’m super excited to be visiting her place today! Come on over! Scroll down for the link.
Meanwhile back to the tour. There is a scavenger hunt that will run throughout the tour.
Hidden within the blog posts are clues you will need to look for. The theme is “Things You’d Find On A Ranch.” When you find these clues, email your answers to me at SaddledHearts@gmail.com With CONTEST In the subject line. The person with the most correct entries will win a $25 Amazon Gift Card! The runner-up will receive an eBook of Saddled Hearts! It Pays To Play!
The link to each blog post will be listed here with comments closed. I’d be thrilled and honored if you’d saddle up and ride along with me as we traverse the blogging world!
It’s Monday again! The weeks fly by! I just loved this quote and hope you will, too.
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I found this meditation to be uplifting. I am confident, I am clear, I am here…
Here’s an interesting group of cards for this week.
Photo by Jan Sikes
Pentacles represent the material aspects of life including work, business, trade, property, money, and other material possessions.
The Knight of Pentacles is all about hard work, productivity, and routine. This Knight is the most hard-working, methodical, and detailed-oriented character of the Tarot deck. He may not be the most inspiring or creative Knight, but he’ll do the work to get the results he seeks, even if that work is highly repetitive or routine. When this card appears in a Tarot reading, you are working methodically towards your goals. You have a plan in place and are sticking to your schedule to get the job done. You may not work particularly quickly, but you are consistent, dedicated, and committed to your goal. Sometimes, the Knight of Pentacles points to the more mundane or boring aspects of life – the daily grind, repetitive schedules, household chores, and other responsibilities and obligations. You may be assigned a project or given a task to do, and you will have to commit your time to see that project through to the end successfully. With the Knight of Pentacles, you will be required to accept responsibility without any complaints or grudges.
The Four of Pentacles asks you to examine your relationship with money. Are you accumulating wealth and investing your money wisely while still enjoying your day-to-day life? Or are you desperately clinging to every coin, afraid to spend your money for fear that you do not have enough or could lose it forever? However, the Four of Pentacles typically accompanies a scarcity mindset, especially with money and material possessions. Instead of spending your cash and enjoying a comfortable lifestyle, you are choosing to stockpile your finances, for fear you might lose it all or someone else might take it away. Your budget may be so conservative or strict that it cuts out many of life’s pleasures. It can also suggest that you are placing too much value on money and material possessions. You may be attached to material things, allowing possessions to become your life. The broader lesson with the Four of Pentacles is to honor and respect money and wealth but don’t become so attached that you lose sight of what’s most important to you: friends, family, happiness, and love.
The Knight of Wands brings about a fresh and exciting passion for a project. When this card appears in a Tarot reading, you are charged up with energy, passion, motivation, and enthusiasm, and you channel that energy through your inspired action. You have a clear vision about what you want to create and, fuelled by your passion and inspiration, you are now moving forward with leaps and bounds to turn your vision into reality. This card is your sign to go for it! The Knight of Wands gives you the feeling you can take on the world! You are so committed to your vision and purpose that you will stop at nothing to bring it to life. As you pursue your goals, your confidence skyrockets, and you realize that your potential is limitless. You can do anything! However, be mindful that the Knight of Wands can express himself as an ‘act first, think later’ type of person. In your pursuit of action, you may be impulsive and impatient, expecting everything to be done yesterday. While you are bursting with energy, you have a tendency to rush into things with little consideration for the consequences of your actions. You may not have a clear plan of attack, hurting your chances of long-term success. If this resonates, find a way to focus your enthusiasm on the activities that will move you closer to your goal. When you have a new idea, rather than acting on it straight away, take a moment to check in and see if it truly aligns with your goals and whether it needs to happen right now.
MY TAKEAWAY:
The Knight of Pentacles makes me think of the turtle. Slow and steady wins the race. Hard work, repetitive tasks, or mundane chores may make it seem like you are getting nowhere, but sticking with it is the key while the monetary rewards come secondary. When you get that burst or spark of creativity, resist the urge to charge ahead without thinking it through.
This reading speaks to me loud and clear. As I’ve embarked on a lengthy book blog tour, the hard work and repetitive tasks are abundant. I honestly don’t consider the monetary rewards when it comes to writing, as there are few. But at the same time, I am thankful for whatever I receive. I’m waiting for that spark that will send me charging into something new! How about you? Does any of this resonate with you?
When I attended the Tarot and Tea last week, this was the dragon card I received, so thought I’d share it with you. It’s another beautiful card!
Welcome to Day 3 of the blog tour for Saddled Hearts!! I hope you picked your favorite horse and are dressed for a trail ride because we are taking off!
I am honored to be hosted by Yvette Calleiro today! I have known Yvette for many years, and she always has a smile on her face and looks for the positive in every situation. She’s a talented writer and poet. I’ve read several of her books, and one I enjoyed immensely is The One Chosen. It is a short story but packed full of action and adventure in the Diasodz kingdom. You can see my review here. I hope you’ll pick up a copy!
Meanwhile back to the tour. There is a scavenger hunt that will run throughout the tour.
Hidden within the blog posts are clues you will need to look for. The theme is “Things You’d Find On A Ranch.” When you find these clues, email your answers to me at SaddledHearts@gmail.com With CONTEST In the subject line. The person with the most correct entries will win a $25 Amazon Gift Card! The runner-up will receive an eBook of Saddled Hearts! It Pays To Play!
The link to each blog post will be listed here with comments closed. I’d be thrilled and honored if you’d saddle up and ride along with me as we traverse the blogging world!
I’m sure you can probably guess what I’m going to be talking about today. Yep. You’ve got it!
The Saddled Hearts blog tour started yesterday! This will be a lengthy tour, and I’m taking a deep breath as we launch into it. If you missed the kickoff, ride on over to Staci’s and take a look.
No, this post isn’t going to be all about the tour, I promise.
I had the honor and privilege of appearing on the Coffee, Tea, Friendlee and Me radio show on Wednesday this week, (book release day) and it was, as always, a fun opportunity. Friendlee Buffington is a wiry little man with more energy than a two-year-old. Could be the coffee he drinks. Or it could just be his makeup. Here’s a photo taken during the show.
Photo by Ginny Foley
I’m trying to figure out how to download the video from Facebook and edit it to just my part of the show. Another thing that makes this radio show unique is that it is streamed live from the lobby of the historic Texan Theater in downtown Greenville, Texas. I’ve only heard bits and pieces of the history, but it was constructed in the late 1800s and is a world-class theater where a variety of live shows take place.
Back to Friendlee (I have no idea what his real name is). The little man has one saying that he ends every show with, AND every time he bids you farewell. “Keepitn your boot,” he says. Yes, it’s always run together. I don’t know how old Friendlee is, but he’s no spring chicken. He also has a regular internet radio show. I share all of this to say I love meeting unique and passionate people. Their energy is contagious. It gives me a boost like a vitamin B12 shot!
On a totally different front, my granddaughter had her first orchestra concert. She chose the violin and has really taken to the instrument. She is eleven and in sixth grade.
This is her with the big goofy smile.
I always get a little emotional when I attend these kinds of events. Just seeing the beautiful faces of the children touches me. I always wonder what life has in store for them. They are certainly destined for some struggles as our world comes more unraveled daily.
I don’t want to get too heavy, but I’ve been catching an occasional “Ancient Aliens” show recently, and I am convinced more than ever we aren’t the first world to exist on this planet and we won’t be the last. I often think of the scripture about “this world and worlds to come.” We are here temporarily. It’s our duty to put our very best foot forward while we linger in this dimension, but always know it’s not permanent. That perspective helps keep me from getting too undone over struggles.
Anyhoo, moving on. Have a great weekend everyone. The blog tour will pick up again next week, but I will still have my regular Monday posts, and a book review post will be thrown into the mix. I’ve read some fabulous books this month!
And just for giggles, I’ll end by saying, “Keepitn your boot!”
Writing and Music 
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