Friday, November 9, 2012

Pumpkin Coffee Heaven (A low calorie, low/no sugar, low carb recipe)



Get a large can of pureed pumpkin. Divide in half. Half for freezer and half for refrigerator. Put in baggies.

Then, make a pot of coffee.

Add 3 T of pureed pumpkin to mug. 

Pour half a mug of coffee. Stir.

Add, if you want, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg powerder--a sprinkle of each.

Add 3 T half and half.

Add rest of mug of coffee.

Add sugar free sweetner pack.

If you want to make it extra dreamy, add sugar free pumpkin syrup (even ginger would work.)

And you get a mug of low calorie heaven! It's incredible.

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online)

Stacy Duplease
Sci-Fi Writer of Time-Travel
The Story of John Arundell and Roanoke: Storykeeper2121 Series, Book #1


Pumpkin Coffee Heaven (A low calorie, low/no sugar, low carb recipe)



Get a large can of pureed pumpkin. Divide in half. Half for freezer and half for refrigerator. Put in baggies.

Then, make a pot of coffee.

Add 3 T of pureed pumpkin to mug. 

Pour half a mug of coffee. Stir.

Add, if you want, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg powerder--a sprinkle of each.

Add 3 T half and half.

Add rest of mug of coffee.

Add sugar free sweetner pack.

If you want to make it extra dreamy, add sugar free pumpkin syrup (even ginger would work.)

And you get a mug of low calorie heaven! It's incredible.

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online)




Blog Themes

The themes of this blog & website are to combine:

Sci-Fi + Storykeeping + Journalkeeping + Fiction Writing

Stacy Duplease
Sci-Fi Writer of Time-Travel
The Story of John Arundell and Roanoke: Storykeeper2121 Series, Book #1
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Storykeeper 2121

Welcome

This is my new blog.

Welcome. 

Stacy Duplease
Sci-Fi Writer of Time-Travel
The Story of John Arundell and Roanoke: Storykeeper2121 Series, Book #1
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Changes and New Website

I've decided that either staying in the 21st Century of in the 16-20th Centuries alone make my story and writing too narrow.

So... I have a new website and blog. See the information below.

Thank you for your patience.

Stacy Duplease
Sci-Fi Writer of Time-Travel
The Story of John Arundell and Roanoke: Storykeeper2121 Series, Book #1
Storykeeper 2121 Blog and Website: http://storykeeper2121.blogspot.com
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Worship on One of Those Days



Today is one of those days I will hurt beagle's, cat's and turtle's ears--by listening to praise and worship music all day a little louder than normal. (It's not really that loud, fyi.)

The turtles love it when I sing at the top of my voice (or quietly), so today will be a day they enjoy.

Music soothes the savage beast inside when things haven't gone the way you wanted, so you are worried and disturbed. Anxious and grieving. Confused and grasping at straws.

Worship is always to be our response. 

God is greater.

God's got this. 

Now, more than ever, I feel the call to ceaseless prayer for the USA.

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)

Stacy Duplease
Thriller Historical Fiction Writer
The Storykeeper of Roanoke: The Family Treez of the USA Series, Book #1
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

God is bigger



God is bigger and has a bigger, better, perfect picture.

This is the hope I have.

The sun came up in the morning.

God is still God.

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online)

Stacy Duplease


God is bigger



God is bigger and has a bigger, better, perfect picture.

This is the hope I have.

The sun came up in the morning.

God is still God.

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online)

Stacy Duplease


Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Christians pray

Christians and patriots pray.

Our religious freedom and national security is at risk...

So are jobs and economy...

Lord, protect us.
-- Stacy Duplease
Writer
Sent from my cell.

What was I thinking?

My writing challenge of writing during the election results is laughable at this point. 

I think my writing is at 10 words per hour at this point. Commercials help.

I am a nervous wreck. 

Lord , your will be done.

God bless America.

-- Stacy Duplease
Writer
Sent from my cell.

Amazon Kindle Fire HD 4G 8.9"

Have I mentioned lately that I cannot wait to get my Amazon Kindle Fire HD 4G 8.9" tablet? I am rather excited. I'm supposed to receive it between 28 Nov. and 04 Dec.

Sigh. That's not quick enough for me. 

Lord, may it get here early!

Stacy Duplease
Thriller Historical Fiction Writer
The Storykeeper of Roanoke: The Family Treez of the USA Series, Book #1


Download Free Copy of NaNoWriMo Book from Smashwords



I have put the book I am writing on my store at Smashwords.

It is free.

However, there is a catch. (Isn't there always with something that's free?) The catch is this: It is a rough and incomplete draft. 

I just wanted to offer it to you so you can start getting into the story.

I will re-download a new copy at least once a week and will let you know when a new version is available on this blog. 

Download the copy from the store link below in this blog post. (It's part of my signature block.)

Enjoy!


Stacy Duplease
Thriller Historical Fiction Writer
The Storykeeper of Roanoke: The Family Treez of the USA Series, Book #1
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA


Researching the Island of Roanoke



When I was on vacation last month, one of the places we went to see was Roanoke Island, North Carolina. That was where my relatives Sir John Arundell and Sir Richard Grenville went in 1585-1856 in an effort to find the ideal place to set up the first permanent English settlement and colony in the North America.

I wanted to go there for research for the book I am writing, THE STORYKEEPER OF ROANOKE (THE FAMILY TREEZ OF THE USA SERIES, BOOK #1.) 

I had no idea how emotional it would be for me. It is very different to see the first place that started the United States of America as a relative of two who were there. (And Sir Walter Raleigh, who was the mastermind in charge of this expedition, was a relative as well, by the way.) It moved me to see and experience. It helped me with the passion I have for this book.

My book cover is a picture of the earthworks at present day Fort Raleigh. It's where there was a fort back in 1587-1590.



Here are more pictures:






 
Photo from inside the earthworks:



(Photo Credits: Stacy Duplease Oct. 2012 at Fort Raleigh).

Stacy Duplease
Thriller Historical Fiction Writer
The Storykeeper of Roanoke: The Family Treez of the USA Series, Book #1
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

I Love it When Writing Surprises You



I love it when writing surprises you and takes on a life of its own.

That's what's happened with me.

I am not writing this book. It's writing itself and taking me along for the ride.

THE STORYKEEPER OF ROANOKE is the most precious and incredible book I've ever written, with CAMMI'S STORY a close second. And that's only 11,000 words into the project.

I will share more of this later.

But, I wanted to share how it is amazing what happens when you write for the story--and not for word count. You free your muse (God's work in your writing). 

Stacy Duplease
Thriller Historical Fiction Writer
The Storykeeper of Roanoke: The Family Treez of the USA Series, Book #1
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

NaNoWriMo Day 6 News and A Revolutionary Change of Perpsective



NEWS
I am sorry for being a stranger on this blog since NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) began on 01 November. I've been writing as much as I can, as fast as I can.

As of this moment, I am sitting at 11,071 words of 50,000 for the NaNoWriMo goal. (My personal goal is more than that.) Yay!

I changed the title of the book one more time. But, this is it. I finally found the perfect title:

THE STORYKEEPER OF ROANOKE
THE FAMILY TREEZ OF THE USA SERIES, BOOK #1. 

A REVOLUTIONARY IDEA:
THROW OUT THE WORD COUNT IDEA
On Saturday, 03 November 2012, I about had a meltdown. The word count was not what I thought it should be. Sure, I met the NaNoWriMo count of 1667 words--no problem. But, I wanted triple that. I wanted to really push myself. I... I-I-I. Me-me-me. Me, myself, and I.

Do you see the problem?

I realized that I became the center of my focus--not the book.

Whoa. This stopped me in my tracks. I realized how:

~ The goal was the center--not the book.
~ A checklist became what was important, not the process of writing. 

This is WRONG. 

I fell into the trap.

I have stopped looking at word count. 

I have a good sense as to how much I am writing--or not writing. I can tell you if it's been a yucky day or a good day. But, the driving force should be the story--not the word count.

I think this new mindset, point-of-view, and perspective have changed my writing life entirely. 

I am actually getting more writing done than before because I have the proper attitude and perspective of the story -not the word count. It takes the stress off. There are great days and bad days with writing. But, they average out to at least a good day over the long-run. There's nothing wrong with that.

Why do I write? It's to tell a story. Period.

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.) 

Stacy Duplease
Thriller Historical Fiction Writer
The Storykeeper of Roanoke: The Family Treez of the USA Series, Book #1
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

NaNoWriMo Day 6: NaNoWriMo Write-A-Thon Election Challenge



In a previous blog post this morning, I issued a writing challenge for whoever wants to join me. With how important this election is, I am going to stay up as long as it takes, even if it's all night, to hear who is declared the next or remaining President of the United States of America.

Why? I am not nuts. I am that passionate about this election. It's the most important election of my lifetime--and might be the most important one of my entire life. 

So, why not use the time to the maximum benefit? As the news plays in the background, I am going to see how much writing I can do on my NaNoWriMo book.

Do you want to join me?

Stacy Duplease
Thriller Historical Fiction Writer
The Storykeeper of Roanoke: The Family Treez of the USA Series, Book #1
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Love of God, Country, Military, and Voting: Family Tree



I was raised to have love of God, country, military, and voting.

I was always taught that these are the minimum values a person should have. Ideally, we would apply the Bible to our lives and love our neighbor as well.

I also was taught that every American should vote. No exceptions. Period. How many have died for the opportunity to vote? 

I was raised to love God first.

I also was taught to love the military. They put their lives on the line every day, by choice, for me--someone who has not made the same decision. The military are the ones who are the true heroes because they make it so we can live free.

This was my passionate value system before I discovered my family tree this spring. No one had any idea that we had four family members live in Jamestown in 1607--and that does not count the several others who lived in Jamestown, or nearby communities, from 1607-1623. 

So, imagine how passionate I am about these values today.

It's rather odd when I have to fill out my ethnicity. Not one form ever gives the option of checking AMERICAN. (How wrong is that?) I am all-American. Can't get much more American. Since 1607. (Actually since 1585 in Roanoke, but he didn't stay.) 

I've had family members fight in EVERY American war. 

Today means more to me than it ever has. 

Today shows how the United States of America is the greatest country on earth. We can vote. And we are not killed for it. And, the next President goes into office without armed conflict. It's a peaceful transition.

How fortunate are we?!

God bless the United States of America.

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)

Stacy Duplease
Thriller Historical Fiction Writer
The Storykeeper of Roanoke: The Family Treez of the USA Series, Book #1
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

06-07 November 2012: Two Big days in American and NaNoWriMo History



Today and tomorrow are two gigantic and important dates in the history of the United States of America.



Make sure to vote!


A NANOWRIMO WRITE-A-THON CHALLENGE
This vote is so critical that I am going to stay up as long as possible--even if I pull an all-nighter--until the President is declared. Hence, I am turning it into a NaNoWriMo Write-A-Thon. As I stay glued to the news  I am going to write and see how many words I can get pumped out for my book. 

Care to join me?

(Image Credit of 1st two images: Microsoft Images Online.) 

Stacy Duplease
Thriller Historical Fiction Writer
The Chronicler of Roanoke: The Family Treez of the USA Series, Book #1
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA