Tag: fears

We Can Do Hard Things

Posted on by Staci Mauney

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands. (Ps. 90:17)

At WriterCon 2021, I went to two sessions on time management—one by Jennifer McMurrain and the other by Tamara Grantham. I know the tricks and tips—I’ve taught them to other writers myself. But lately, applying them to my own writing life has been a challenge. I was hoping to learn something new, or to hear an old piece of advice taught in a new way. And I did.

One of the things I’ve struggled with revolves around completing my cozy mystery. I’m not usually a procrastinator, but I found that I would put my manuscript aside to work on almost any mundane task instead. Continue reading “We Can Do Hard Things” →

The Lesson of the Peace Lily

Posted on by Staci Mauney

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. (Ps 31:24)

When my grandpa passed away over eleven years ago, I received a peace lily after his service. It’s common practice here in Oklahoma for members of the family to choose the plants they want that aren’t specifically designated for someone, so I chose the peace lily.

This plant has followed me through two moves and survived six months of serious neglect. I nearly killed it several times. Never on purpose, of course. But when I got busy, I forgot to water it, forgot to open the blinds, and just generally forgot about the poor plant that sat all alone in the corner of my house. At one point, the plant had only two small leaves pushing up from the dirt. Continue reading “The Lesson of the Peace Lily” →

Meeting Bruce Campbell

Posted on by Staci Mauney
Bruce Campbell at local book signing

“David also said to Solomon his son, ‘Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.’” (1 Chron 28:20)

I had the opportunity to meet Bruce Campbell, the actor from the TV show Burn Notice and The Evil Dead movie franchise, at a book signing recently held at a local bookstore. This was a big deal for a couple of reasons: 1) to date, he’s the most famous person I’ve met; and 2) I attended the book signing alone, something I probably wouldn’t have done even just a year ago. And meeting him was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had. Continue reading “Meeting Bruce Campbell” →