Protect Water!

 

We all know that gold is considered a precious natural resource. Even timber, coal, and of course oil are valuable natural resources. Some countries produce varying amounts of gemstones, cobalt, nickel, uranium, and iron, which help their countries prosper. Sadly, some of these mining operations can lead to pollution which threatens Earth’s most precious gift. The natural resource that gives us life—water. Without it, we wither and die, and even gold will mean nothing.

Water on our planet is unevenly distributed. Some places have rain to replenish; other places have continual droughts. Fresh groundwater is a rare commodity, because there’s a limited supply available for consumption.

From a certain perspective, my novel, The Happy War is a horror story. Although I am using water as a metaphor for The Living Water, which is the gospel of Jesus, and the characters are symbolic missionaries spreading the Word, it sounds more like a secular, Machiavellian plan for control. 

Which is what I intended. I wanted the reader to imagine a world where something everyone values and needs, is somehow at risk. Without preaching, I had to go to the outrageous depths of fear to make my point. Sure, I try to pass it off as a fairy tale for grownups or a romance, but once you read the entire story, you will not look at a glass of water the same way again.  And, for that, I’m sort of sorry, but for those who see my connection to faith, it will make sense. 

Every day there are Christians being persecuted for believing in Jesus. If you do an internet search you will be shocked. It’s happening right now. Churches sit empty, or are sold as real estate. Our faith is a valuable resource. Dwindling prayers are the platinum of our souls. People die without water, but what about a world without God? (Sigh-drop mic.)

Thank you for stopping by my blog—Intangible Hearts. You can also follow me on Facebook as Intangible Hearts. Please leave a review of The Happy War on Goodreads or on Amazon once you read my harrowing tale. If you have already taken the time to read my book, thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

A Sunny Stage Set for Confidence!

 

Imagine telling your motivational Life Coach friend you were shy in high school, until you tried out for the school musical, which happened to change your life. That’s exactly what transpired. Then, you explain to your friend, who is also an author, how the confidence you acquired from singing your heart out on stage inspired you to be bold in all your future endeavors. Every tough situation sort of whisked you back to that stage, reminding you of Shakespeare’s As You Like It:

As spoken by Jacques:

“All the world’s a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances;

And one man in his time plays many parts,

His acts being seven ages.”

And that my friends, is how my tale ended up in Sunny Simon’s latest, phenomenal book titled:

Wisdom in Her Wake-Insights from Women Who Lead, Inspire and Uplift Others

It’s an honor to have my self-assurance-boosting message included among all this wonderful advice. This is an amazing collection of heartfelt situations, and defining moments that can help with physical, and spiritual health, by strengthening your life too! Get your copy today!

Illuminating Poetry!

I'm so excited to share with you a personal, memoir-style poem published in the Genesis issue of Luminaura Magazine. Many of you know about our move to the desert, and the blog I had for years called The Desert Rocks. The dry landscape inspired me every day, almost like a fountain erupting from parched ground in the middle of nowhere. Though a great place to write, I found family distancing themselves due to drought and immense heat. Maybe I should have been focusing  on family and friends, rather than writing. My get-togethers should have had more style, more panache, and memorable décor. The rock formations, the roadrunners, the cactus were gorgeous, but not everyone was excited about date palms, long freeway trips, and warm nights. 

My unapologetic behavior stemmed from the encouragement that those exact friends, and my dear family members, instilled in me. They had pushed me, motivated, even begged me to write, and yet, somehow, one by one they disappeared. I didn't notice any of this while feverishly finishing each novel, or perfecting a story. Finally, after moving back from the desert, I  noticed everyone was gone. The desert wasn't a place after all. The poem in Luminaura explains my regret.  

   

You can read my work here: https://luminauramag.com/vol1/poetry/eves-contrite-heart and read the rest of it here: https://luminauramag.com/

A Window of Time-Creating Your Legacy

 

Friends, it’s time to make your mark. Whether you’re a writer or illustrator, the next four years are crucial to our collective success. We all know that artificial intelligence can write essays, and draw cute pictures. We also know it is continuously feeding from the artists of today, and yesterday. Simply put, it’s growing like a fungus—sort of ballooning. It solves problems, makes deductions, and has even shown reasoning capabilities. But yesterday, from the television in the other room, I overheard famous scientific researcher Sir Demis Hassabis explain something that made goosebumps run up and down my spine. After a bit of checking, I realized the source is excellent. He gave me hope. Not just for myself, but for all my creative friends. The ones who draw, or write songs, and tender poets hiding behind figurative, but enormous brick walls.

Besides being an AI researcher and CEO of DeepMind, Hassabis was also awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry. This brilliant man said something hopeful, that made me run to pen and paper. Something all my artistic friends need to know. Basically, here’s the kicker. He told the interviewer that artificial intelligence won’t have intuition and imagination for five years, or so. Though I believe what he said, I think it will be less than five years. Either way, if you, my imaginative friends have something you want to express, something you believe in, something the world needs to hear, this is your time. Don’t wait five years. (Of course, I’m good at giving advice--find me in five years.) In five years, everything will change.

Meanwhile, Microsoft came up with a list of forty jobs that artificial intelligence can’t take away from humans. The list is called --Bottom 40 Occupations with lowest AI applicability score. Roofers, painters, and embalmers seem to be safe, along with Massage Therapists, Ship Engineers and Ophthalmic Medical Technicians Even dentists, and dishwashers. But we all know there’s another list. The painful list which is called the Top 40 occupations with highest AI applicability scores. Of course, writers, reporters, editors, proofreaders, and historians were high on the list. My old occupation of Advertising is mentioned too.  Intuition tells me that the window is narrow, and we must create something lasting, now. Yes, like today!

Think escape room with a timer. The clock is ticking and your heart has ideas. There are fables only you can imagine. There are medical research papers only you can explain. And, once you have invented, patented, published, or copyrighted your creation, and are somewhat depleted, but thrilled you took the leap; only then, begin a plan for an entirely new future. One that’s safe, perhaps on a cruise vessel…as the ship’s engineer.    

Pray Louder!

 

Sorry I haven’t posted for a while, but so far this year, I’m trapped in a soap opera-style escape room and can’t get out. Every time I think there’s a silver lining, or that fake sense of calm tickles me with my forgotten sense of humor, some heart-wrenching drama unfolds like a plot twist in a mystery novel.

Adding to the chaos are the mundane disappointments. A garage door that breaks while we’re at the doctor; the gardener who replaced our grass watering-system but didn’t know how to set it, giving us an astronomical billing statement. Then there are thieves who break into the mailbox creating lasting issues with lost checks. And, our gorgeous Mesquite tree that had to be executed. Chopped down like it didn’t share ten years giving us shade, and holding onto chirping little birds.  

Fortunately, faith is carrying me through my trials and tribulations. When I’m overwhelmed, my prayers which used to be gentle mumblings, have become louder, more intense, and pleading. I feel like I’m shouting, screaming, and yelling at God. Even admitting this is embarrassing. I mean why would I want to be belligerent with the one who has answered all my prayers and protected me thus far? I must sound foolish, as well as desperate. 

Many have been through worse, and my perspective on everything could be wrong, because this pain comes from loving others. I am the servant to those affected. The one trying to learn wound care, while my suffering heart sobs for those I’ve cared for my entire life. Trauma bay aside, infections, boils, scars, become visible, literal evils that plague us, and yet, “we are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit…” -Romans 8:8-17

Job also cried out to God, but he was focused on his own darkness. I watch the news and cry. There’s a lot to cry about. Mostly for children who should never see bombs fall from the sky. Not in 2025, or ever.  My quiet voice needs to muster up courage so I can pray even louder! 

Finches and orioles loved watching the sunset from this tree.

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 Hello everyone! Now you can follow Intangible Hearts on Facebook!

The page is under my dog's name of Baba Chanel, but the page for Intangible Hearts will be all original content, and all me. Thank you for sticking with me! I appreciate my followers!

Happy New Year-Winners!

 

Happy New Year!

The Kindle edition of the Winner’s Anthology is now available, and we are seeking reviews to help catapult this wonderful selection of stories into the best Amazon rankings available!

If you preordered a print copy, then you should be receiving this winning collection by the end of the month, and for those who haven’t ordered yet, the Kindle version is available right now! From what I can see, there’s only one review on Amazon, and we need more! Please?

My story is about hope. Hospice nurse, Diane Bell is on duty and she’s ready to “entertain” patient Colleen Poole. While Diane engages Colleen, she begins to learn and question her own future. After all, she doesn’t crochet, knit or even sew. And, while Colleen will be busy as a bee, the more Diane talks, the more she realizes, she needs to prepare her own way too. Read my story, Crocheting in Heaven and please leave a short review on Amazon.

Click Here for Your Copy

Thank you in advance!!

Stay warm!