Words from the Heart

Dear Lauren, I completely agree and have also ago...

2012-05-25T07:46:40.840-04:00

Dear Lauren,

I completely agree and have also agonized over an email for tone. I have made it a rule not to send emails for some things, working, instead, to find a way to speak face-to-face. Skype has made that much easier!

Blessings, Linda

Great post. Very pertinent, not only to us as writ...

2012-05-25T00:40:05.791-04:00

Great post. Very pertinent, not only to us as writers, but to us as members of the Internet/text messaging age.

Because I deal with my editing clients mostly via e-mail, I'll sometimes spend ten minutes (or some other stretch of time that feels unreasonable to me) on a simple e-mail just to ensure I convey the right tone. I think they appreciate it, though. :)

Thanks for the post, Melissa.

Hi, Nichole! I am so glad you found what is writt...

2012-05-19T16:59:58.994-04:00

Hi, Nichole!

I am so glad you found what is written here to be helpful. I appreciate your comments and pray that you will find peace and healing as you put your thoughts to paper.

Blessings! Linda

Hi my name is nichole. I have been journaling sinc...

2012-05-19T13:13:23.438-04:00

Hi my name is nichole. I have been journaling since i was a child, but i quit for a long period of time. And a few months ago i finally freed myself from an abusive relationship. And recently i am slowly picking up the pen again. But with reading mari's ideas, has stirred up some ideas of my own to really start journaling again. I do find journaling theraputic. I will keep reading this site and thank you everyone. Best wishes to all.

Ah--I had a feeling it might be you! ;-)

2012-05-19T10:25:25.115-04:00

Ah--I had a feeling it might be you! ;-)

I am so blessed to have you in my life, Linda. Tha...

2012-05-16T20:35:30.500-04:00

I am so blessed to have you in my life, Linda. Thank you so much for the gracious words and huge huge thank you for your inspiring contribution to this book.

Hi, Sherrey! Glad you came to visit. Genealogy wo...

2012-05-15T22:49:40.403-04:00

Hi, Sherrey! Glad you came to visit. Genealogy work can be most fascinating. Hope your sister-in-law finds the Ellis site helpful - although they do require you to pay for copies. This link has been very helpful, also. https://www.familysearch.org/

Blessings!

Interesting read, especially when I got to the ref...

2012-05-13T00:58:40.968-04:00

Interesting read, especially when I got to the reference to Baden, Germany. My husband's dad's family came from the same area. My SIL, husband's older sister, has done extensive research but years ago. I've bookmarked this page to come back to you as you reference some tools I don't think she's used, like Ellis Island. :) Thanks for the tips, and thanks for the interesting story.

Happy Mother's Day to you too!

Thanks, Brenda! The PAD challenge is such fun. G...

2012-05-07T23:02:23.105-04:00

Thanks, Brenda! The PAD challenge is such fun. Glad you liked the poems. Blessings!

Your grandmother sounds like a strong and courageo...

2012-05-07T22:12:39.846-04:00

Your grandmother sounds like a strong and courageous woman. Thank you for sharing her/your story with us.
May her quilt be an everlasting link to the love you shared.

Blessings!

I like all of the poems, but my favorite is Unexpe...

2012-05-07T11:59:45.611-04:00

I like all of the poems, but my favorite is Unexpected. Good work.

I have a quilt that my grandmother made for me. S...

2012-05-07T10:44:57.832-04:00

I have a quilt that my grandmother made for me. She feel ill over a year ago with cancer and did not share this information with anyone. Just told the family that she had the flu and could not get rid of it. She was a rough and tuff West Texas woman. She told me over the past year that she was going to finish my quilt. Well in February of this year she went to meet her maker. :( She was 90% done with the quilt. I found a wonderful woman to finish it. I received the quilt last night and wrapped myself in it all night long and thought of all the wonderful times that I shared with her. It is two fold. She started this quilt when she was ill, but yet she wanted to make sure I had something to remember her by. I felt her warm embrace last night wrapped around me. I am so glad that I will have that for many years. I travel from town to town working for a pipeline company, and gets very lonely. Well always have my grandmothers warmth with me. Just thought I would share.

Thank You
CM

Emma! How nice to have you visit my blog. Yes, w...

2012-05-06T19:19:50.005-04:00

Emma! How nice to have you visit my blog. Yes, we have to keep writing, learning and improving.

So here is a challenge - Your prompt if you decide to accept it, is to write a poem about withdrawing...any way you want to take that!

Blessings! Can't wait to see what you write!!

Oh Linda, I have been feeling the same things. No...

2012-05-06T17:53:55.563-04:00

Oh Linda,
I have been feeling the same things. Now it is up to us. No prompts, no days to be present or miss, and so much life to get in the way. But I do miss it. The challenges, others' interpretations of the prompts, and the encouragement are gone for a time.

Gotta keep on writing, learning, improving.

Emma

Dear Chooze Shoes (Anonymous), Thanks for your su...

2012-04-25T08:43:56.729-04:00

Dear Chooze Shoes (Anonymous),

Thanks for your support in helping to get the word out to others on this difficult subject.

Blessings, Linda

Wonderful post! We are linking to this great post ...

2012-04-24T22:48:57.531-04:00

Wonderful post! We are linking to this great post on our site.
Keep up the great writing.
My website: shoes for little feet

Hello, Kath! =) I completely understand what you ...

2012-04-21T14:24:16.963-04:00

Hello, Kath! =)

I completely understand what you mean. I totally needed to be in a healthy place before I could write about what I'd gone through. If you can't write from that place, it won't help the campaign, at least that's what I've learned.

These children need a voice but they need that voice to be strong and emotionally strong in order to help and get others to listen.

And I agree with you, Linda, that kids need to be able to read about, learn about and talk about these things in a safe way. I see good things happening...slowly but surely.

Chynna <3

Dear Kath, I understand, completely, what you mea...

2012-04-21T08:26:35.619-04:00

Dear Kath,

I understand, completely, what you mean about trying to write about this subject for children. I have also attempted to do that and found that it hurts so much that I cannot continue.

After reading White Elephants, I am thinking that perhaps, first by writing a memoir, I can dissipate that pain and anger, allowing for a constructive message to help children. Not sure if it will work, but, I think I will try, because there are too few books for kids out there. They need to be able to read and talk about this as much as, if not more, than adults do in a safe and nurturing way.

Thanks, as always, for your thoughtful comments. Love you!

In writing for children I have tried to write abou...

2012-04-21T08:14:22.151-04:00

In writing for children I have tried to write about child abuse and found myself getting angry instead of presenting a story that children could relate to or be comforted by. I applaude you for taking on this subject, which is perhaps the most important subject any writer could tackle.

Thank you, Linda. You are so amazingly supportive....

2012-04-20T17:41:57.142-04:00

Thank you, Linda. You are so amazingly supportive. And you are right. Schools/teachers seem to be better trained and are more aware/sensitive to these issues. You will always find a teacher who sees things from that 'don't ask, don't tell' line of thinking. But it doesn't seem as common. There are just too many children with these serious issues and we need to work together to help them so they can be all they can be.

They deserve that.

Thanks for your comment, Anonymous.

Chynna

Dear Anonymous, Things have gotten better in many...

2012-04-20T17:10:29.062-04:00

Dear Anonymous,

Things have gotten better in many places, but children still fall between the cracks, especially given the demands on teachers to make sure students "perform."

Many of us became introverted. However, it is never too late to turn things around, see the amazing person you are and shine. I know that sounds trite, but it is meant with the greatest sincerity. After years of "hiding" my true self, I now have the joy of being me. Realizing that I am the one who can make the choices now was very scary at first, but now, I am less afraid each day.

Blessings to you. May you grow stronger each day in the reality of your own amazing self!

Dear Chynna, Thank YOU for being brave enough to ...

2012-04-20T17:06:06.982-04:00

Dear Chynna,

Thank YOU for being brave enough to tell your story. You have done so with grace and hope. Congratulations for the honor of being on the top of the Goodreads. Wow!
Blessings, Linda

Wonderful post! When I was in school the teachers ...

2012-04-20T16:54:56.617-04:00

Wonderful post!
When I was in school the teachers didn't seem to notice or care that some children were crying out. Has it gotten any better?
I became the introvert--I pulled away and kept to myself. I didn't play, I didn't laugh...and I was always pointing out to the teachers which kids were being picked on & needed help. Really, I could have used some help...
(The teachers told me to mind my own business.)

This is beautiful. Thank you so much for having me...

2012-04-20T16:53:38.332-04:00

This is beautiful. Thank you so much for having me on your awesome blog. =)

I just wanted to invite you and your readers to my discussion group on Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/68056-q-a-with-chynna-laird) It's a place I've set up for the duration of the tour to chat about the book, any subjects I bring up in it or just to chat about writing and books.

As well, I wanted to let you know that White Elephants is on the top of the list for the most recommeded books on Goodreads for recovery from childhood trauma, which is a HUGE honor. And it's all thanks to people who felt the need for the book to be out there for those who need it the most.

You can see the list here (http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8301.BEST_BOOKS_ON_RECOVERING_FROM_CHILDHOOD_TRAUMA) and if you feel you can, you're more than welcome to vote for it.

Thanks again for having me.

Much love to you,

Chynna

I am a huge fan of fresh flowers and gardens...Now...

2012-04-17T11:27:38.979-04:00

I am a huge fan of fresh flowers and gardens...Now I want to read both books! Thanks for this post~
Beth :-)