Happy Father’s Day!

There are a few things I need to thank my dad for today:

1. For playing baseball with me in the backyard as a kid.  I have about .0002% athletic talent, and it all came from those times playing baseball.  To this day, the only athletic thing I’m even mildly good at is hitting a baseball.  (Well, I also have a pretty good punching arm from hitting my sister, but I’ll save those thanks for her.)

2. For teaching me a love of nature.  I feel that having a love and respect for animals and nature really developed my sympathetic side.  I notice that people who really care about the world around them are usually the most amazing people, and my dad gave me a good head start in that area.

3. For teaching me a love of all people.  This is one I probably still need to work on, but thanks to my dad I always think twice about why someone acts the way they do instead of just judging them.  He taught me that every person, no matter how bad they might seem, is deserving of love.

4. For his endless smiles, jokes, and entertainment.  This helped me develop from a shy, awkward kid to someone who isn’t afraid to embarrass themselves once in a while and enjoy the silly little things in life.

5. For always being honest with me.  I feel that we are friends as much as father/daughter.  Because I can trust him, and because of the honesty we share with one another, my dad has become a confidante and friend more and more every day.

6. For supporting me, no matter what, even when I mess up.  Although he always has a lecture ready when something goes wrong, he’s also there to help me pick up the pieces and learn from what happens.  He taught me to keep going after my dreams even when they fall apart, and I never could have done that without his support.

7. For just being the most caring, loving, fun, intelligent, and goofy father he could be.  When I was a little girl I thought I should keep it a secret that I knew my dad was the best dad in the world.  I was afraid if I told people how cool he was that they would try to steal him.  Well, my plan worked, because he’s still my dad and I still feel like the luckiest person in the world that he is.

Thanks for everything, Dad, I love you!  Happy Father’s Day!

Author Interview with Julie Lence

Julie Lence is clearly an author with dedication to her craft and a real love for Western historical romance novels, which both of hers are.  Luck of the Draw was Julie Lence’s first book with Asylett Press.  Her second book, Lady Luck, will be released soon.  I was privileged to have the chance to interview Julie and learn more about her writing process and where she gets her inspiration.  You can buy Julie’s first book and stay updated about the release of the second by clicking here: Asylett Press

You can also visit her personal website (which has a great Western theme — perfect for her style!): Julie Lence

Read the interview and see her book information by clicking Read More!
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Valentine’s Mood Music

How does Valentine’s Day make you feel?  Do you love it?  Hate it?  Well here are some songs to fit your Valentine mood, no matter what it may be.  Click on your mood below to listen to the perfect Valentine’s song for you.  If you can’t find your mood, let me know and I’ll find a song for you!

Click Read More for the songs…

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Valentine’s Day

Almost everyone I know is in a relationship.  Married, serious relationship, or at least casually dating someone.  I’m used to being glaringly single among the majority of people I interact with, especially on holidays or at events.  Valentine’s Day is obviously one of those days where I have to hunt down all the single people I know and band together for the night.  Usually I hate this because the night consists of all said single people whining about: “Why am I still alone?”  “Can you believe she has a boyfriend yet I’m still single?!”  “I’m going to be alone forever, I just know it!”  “I hate Valentine’s Day!”  So basically, instead of enjoying the fact that they have great friends who are hanging out with them and having a good time, they want to complain and feel sad and lonely.  This never makes sense to me.

I see Valentine’s Day as a time to appreciate everyone in your life who you love.  Tell your parents how much you love them, call your best friend and say thanks for all the reasons you’re best friends, call your sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, grandparents, family friends – whoever – but just make it about appreciating the important people you’re surrounded with.  We are not alone, even if we’re single.  There are always people who are there to remind us that we have love in our lives.  Just because it’s not romantic love doesn’t make it less valid.  And those relationships might even last longer than Random Boyfriend/Girlfriend anyway.

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