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Hellooooo out there!

If anyone still follows me here, you might like to know that, yes, I'm still alive. And no, I didn't fall off the face of the earth. I took a few years off from writing after I had some health problems when was feeling discouraged and uninspired. But now I'm back and determined to get a novel finished! About a year ago, a couple characters developed in my mind until their presence grew bigger and bigger and I had to transfer them to the pages of a book. While their story is being written, I'm keeping an Instagram journal to document this journey that will hopefully lead to publication. Follow me, if you please, at https://www.instagram.com/sarahelizabethwriter/ where I talk about writing, reading, and other random things that interest me.

Paper Fears

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Lately I have been facing a few challenges. I’ve been going through some crucial times in my life and have not had the energy to write, let alone keep up this blog. I hope to have a weekly, or at least bi-weekly blog going again in the future, but right now I’m starting small. My New Year’s Resolution is to write 300 words a week in the novel I’m working on. I usually don’t make New Year’s Resolutions because I can never keep them. I make monthly goals instead. But writing 300 words a month basically is a monthly goal. But anyway, let’s get to the point. I want to talk about fear. These “challenges” I’ve been facing in my life have been teaching me a lot about fear and anxiety. I’ve been struggling with those two lately. I mean, I’ve struggled with those for as long as I can remember, but lately, they’ve been causing me intense worry. Trying to rule my life. Trying to take my joy. There are certain things that cause me fear that are so petty and small, that Satan likes to...

Hot Cinnamon Spice Apple "Cider"

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I LOVE spiced apple cider for fall! It's the perfect drink to curl up with under a blanket while reading a good book. But it's hard to find real apple cider since the stuff they sell in the grocery stores is required to be pasteurized. So practically, you're paying more for a drink that just tastes the same as apple juice. So here's an easy way I make my own cider-tasting drink. Hot Cinnamon Spice Apple "Cider" Recipe Ingredients: 100% Apple Juice 1 Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice Black Tea Directions: Microwave on high 2 minutes the apple juice in a microwave-safe mug. Insert tea bag and let steep for 5-10 minutes. Take out the tea bag and enjoy! See? It's simple and delicious! Also, the Hot Cinnamon Spice tea is great on its own with water. My mom and my favorite, especially for fall and winter!

Book PREview: Unstoppable

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Do you believe in miracles? Nick Vujicic does. I'm sure you've heard of him. The man born with no arms or legs but chooses to live a life without limits. He is such an inspiration, an because he is not able to live an ordinary life, God used to live an extrordiary life. Here is a video trailer of his new book, Unstoppable. Read the first chapter here. I, for one, am excited to read the rest of the book when it comes out October 2nd! Unstoppable by Nick Vujicic (Chapter 1 Excerpt)

Book Review: Not This Time by Vicki Hinze

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Beth Dawson is a powerful woman, a millionaire business owner, and is beautiful and intelligent. It seems she has it all, but one thing she can’t control is her best friend’s life. When Sara marries Robert Tayton, there is something about him that pushes every one of Beth’s buttons. Because of this, Beth and Sara’s relationship becomes strained, and when Robert turns up missing, Beth is a main suspect. Beth must prove her innocence to the town in order to keep their respect, but most of all, to her best friend in order to maintain their relationship. But as they tread deeper into the investigation, they begin to realize the real suspect may be closer to home than they think. NOT THIS TIME Book Trailer from Vicki Hinze on Vimeo . The first thing I want to say is that I absolutely loved this novel! I have never heard of this author, Vickie Hinze, before but I will definitely be reading more from her in the future. She is an amazing writer who created great, real char...

Book Review: Indelible by Kristen Heitzmann

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"The image you left was very strong." Hands pressed to her back, she paced in short quick steps. "If what I capture is emotionally static, it fades. If not, it leaves an indelible imprint – until I transfer it to the clay." Natalie has a gift; or is it a curse? Her eidetic memory allows her to capture emotion into her sculptures like no one else. But when Trevor McDaniel, a search and rescue volunteer, recovers her nephew, Cody, from the jaws of a mountain lion and the toddler is left in the care of Natalie, and she wonders, with this “gift”, if she’s fit to take care of Cody by herself. Trevor’s strong protector quality drives him to take Cody under his wing and meanwhile, a budding romance forms between him and Natalie. Trevor struggles with breaking free from his own past, and tries to compensate by helping Cody face his fears. A psychotic stalker is somewhere in their midst, deep in the shadows. First blackmailing Trevor, then threatenin...

Book Review: Mercy Come Morning by Lisa Tawn Bergren

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"You are an adult now, Krista. You can fight off your own predators. But the biggest one you face is inside you. You know that, don't you?" Krista Mueller returns to her home in New Mexico around Christmastime to visit her dying mother who was officially diagnosed with Alzheimer’s twelve years ago, which was the last time she saw her mother when she admitted her to Cimarron Care Center. She carries around the ghosts of what her mother used to be, all the bad memories and blocks out the good. She’s afraid to love and forgive. While there, she re-meets her high school sweetheart, Dane McConnell, a doctor there, who reminds her of what it means to love with mercy and grace. The first thing I noticed is that Mercy Come Morning has incredibly long chapters. Of 222 pages, it only has 15 chapters. I found myself often stopping in the middle of scenes due to lack of time to read instead of being able to find a good stopping point within the next few pages. ...