Tag Archives: Poetry

Brew Creativity: Awaken Your Dream!

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A book launch is an exciting event, but it can also be overwhelming. As authors, we hope everyone who hears about our book will purchase it (after all, e-books are less than a cup of coffee), read it, love it, write a kind review, share it, talk it up, and even re-read it. One can’t do this with a cup of coffee!

If you are an author or creative artist, you can relate to this sentiment. Most importantly, you appreciate the desire to create something valuable, impactful, and inspiring. Therefore, marketing can feel unfamiliar and downright uncomfortable for many of us.

We aim to offer hope, a touch of kindness, and guidance based on our experiences and/or education, rather than focus on sales.

While writing Country Perks and Grit, I wanted to leave a lasting family legacy, and offer hope to others that they too can step out of their comfort zones in pursuit of their dreams. It doesn’t have to be a country lifestyle or growing and preserving your own vegetables. Maybe you want to be a nurse, live in a tiny house by the ocean, pass an exam, or write a song.

When we take action on something we’re meant to do, we find purpose.

Achieving your dreams isn’t a simple task. It requires dedication and perseverance. By diligently applying oneself and staying true to the path that God has laid out, a realm of incredible opportunities and unexpected surprises will unfold before you. Here are two that surprised me:

 Country Perks and Grit ranked

#1 New Release and #1 Best Seller!

 It received five 5-star reviews within five days of release!

After filling your cup with freshly brewed coffee, take the first step towards achieving your dream. If you need a little encouragement, pick up your copies today. Glean useful tips from Country Perks and Grit to help motivate your own path into reality. 

Do you have a dream you’d like to share? If so, I’d love to cheer you on.

Did you know Country Perks and Grit is now available in paperback?

The Mighty Oak

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The Mighty Oak

“The Mighty Oak’s zeal for life suggests determination

despite aging cracks and cavities.

Extended arms of gnarled bark give rest to fowl,

nesting habitats, and acorn fuel.

The Mighty Oak is never alone.

It greets visitors where it grew beneath the sun,

weathering the wind and rain,

watching, listening, and sheltering man and beast.

It’s serene and tranquil … always giving.

Always receiving.

Always present.

Bound by a vast network of roots.

May its wounds heal and its leaves rustle in the wind.

May its majestic trunk uphold a mighty canopy

over the meadow where branches soar into the sky.

Let its journey live forever.”

Dianne Marie Andre, 2022

We have two giant oaks. One has died from borers and now stands bare. The other oak—pictured above—with its obvious deterioration fights to live … to give splendor and renewal to creatures and humanity.

Regardless of its state, it doesn’t stop baring fruit … a stunning message that we too can bear fruit no matter what our circumstances.

“For he will be as a tree planted by the waters, who spreads out its roots by the river and will not fear when heat comes, but its leaf will be green, and will not be concerned in the year of drought. It won’t cease from yielding fruit.” Jeremiah 17:8 (WEB)

 The Christmas Tree by Julie Salamon is one of my favorite Christmastime books. It’s about befriending a fir tree and “learning to love, and, finally, being able to share that love with others, allowing it to be reborn, remembered and cherished forever.” 

This story is a beautiful reminder of yielding fruit to the very end. Do you have a favorite Christmas story? A favorite tree? I’d loved to hear about them.