February Newsletter
This is our beloved yellow lab, Sadie Grace. She has been with us since our daughter, Jenna, needed puppy antics and velvety ears to comfort her broken heart. This gorgeous photo was taken on their hike together on the Appalachian Trail.
Sadie was recently diagnosed with advanced kidney disease, and we are heartbroken to lose our furry baby at the young age of seven. We are choosing to be thankful for all the love she gave to our entire family and our joy as we loved her back. She will always be remembered as an enthusiastic, kinda bulldozing lover of all people. We won’t forget her walks to her happy place, her toy tugs-of-war, her warm brown eyes, and her amazing tricks.
Pillow Progress!
My third rewrite of my manuscript is FINISHED! I ran 45 days over my goal, but I am rejoicing nonetheless. Let me qualify that statement before you cheer too loud and imagine me meeting with publishers next week. We have Mount Manuscript, writing the whole story, and I’m at the top after climbing it three times. You can’t know what you don’t know, and I have learned so much! Then we have Mount Edit, with several crests of different edit types, which I will climb in 2024, and set my goal when I get in the groove. Last, there is Mount Publish, the highest one of all with agents and editors and proposals, oh my. But I’ll join Scarlett in Gone With The Wind and think about that tomorrow.
Non-Fiction Feature
A dear friend told me how much she loved this book on prayer by John Eldridge, so I bought it the same day. I almost finished it before Tony took it from me to read on a trip because I talked too much about how it inspired me! I’m sharing it with you, as it is the reason I got finished with this manuscript.
It's just hard, y’all, and I was in a stuck writing place again, not wanting to talk about it, as I read in this book how John prays to consecrate many things, including his writing time because everything conspires against it. I did this, and that day, I not only took off on a writing roll but also got inspired with an exciting idea for Pillow’s sequel (which better take me SO much less time!)
Supportive Spouse Shout-Out
Neither Tony nor I knew what I was getting myself into when I agreed to take on writing a book. Still, after ten years of rolling in the learning curve and overcoming fears, I want to say how much I adore him and appreciate how he has backed me up all the way on my newbie author journey. This photo was taken in Washington DC at the Museum of the Bible’s Anniversary Gala, celebrating the World’s all-time best-selling Book of Books. If you haven’t been there, make plans for it! You’ll be amazed.
Another Shout-Out
Speaking of Shout-Outs, I want to introduce you to the one who makes my new marketing endeavors as an author and associate broker look so good! I could not do this without her. This is my daughter, Jenna Norman, and this photo was taken at our mother-daughter getaway to Universal Studios, celebrating the 30th and 60th birthdays we had in 2023!
She does freelance graphic design on a retainer and is taking on new clients. No one would ever call me an unbiased reference, but I wholeheartedly recommend her abilities, character, and work ethic!
If you’re in need of design help and interested in seeing her work, contact her by email at jenna.amburgy@gmail.com and she will send you her portfolio!
