By Mandy Boerma, @mandyboerma
We can all agree that writing can be a lonely, and sometimes, extremely discouraging career choice. I see you there on the back row who’s peeking around agreeing with me. Sometimes the voices in our head only serve to tear us down, not build us up.
I dare say, we’ve all been there. In fact, just last week, I was ready to throw it all in the wastebasket. I hit that moment in the writing process where I cried over the story—would it ever reach the light of day? Were all the hours I’d poured into really worth it? Could I take the messy words and turn them into something worthwhile? Tell me I’m not the only one who faces these questions.
While I pondered these questions I took a quick jaunt outside, because sometimes fresh air makes a world of difference. The sky overcast, the shadows of the afternoon long on my driveway, and my mood a little darker than the day called for, until I opened the mailbox flap and discovered a single white envelope.
Here inside my mailbox was an actual card. Addressed to me. I opened it like a greedy kid tearing the envelope right there in the middle of the street to read the encouraging handwritten words.
You are creative.
You are talented.
You are dedicated.
You are loved.
Keep on, keeping on.
Imagine my surprise, my delight to discover such an incredible message from a writer friend. She knew my struggle, knew my discouragement, and she took the time to send me a card with a few simple sentences. Her words encouraged. Her words showed love. Her words offered that little extra oomph needed to dive back in and finish the story.
Maybe you are in a season like me, where you are needing some extra encouragement. Reach out to a friend. Find the support you need. Or perhaps you are in a season where you can offer some love to a friend. If that’s the case, maybe during this season of giving, you can send the gift of encouragement.
An email, or a text would go a long way. But there is something extra special about an actual letter. A real one—the old-fashioned kind that arrives in the mail. Imagine the love you could send to a friend needing a boost. It doesn’t have to be long. It doesn’t have to be detailed. A few simple words can brighten their day and offer a huge boost.
Can you think of a friend who could use a dose of friendship and encouragement? Might I suggest you grab a blank notecard, write that note and send it today?
He just wants to leave the past behind him…
International hotel manager Ben Carter is not sticking around Hearts Bend. He’s just home to sell the inn he inherited from his grandparents. The place holds all his best memories—especially the ones that include regular summer guest Cami Jackson. But she’s been out of his life for years, and she’s not coming back.
She is headed for a glorious future…
Real estate developer Cami Jackson is ready to take over as VP of her father’s company, Akron Development. When the Hearts Bend Inn comes on the market, she wants to swoop it up, if only because of the sweet memories of her favorite summers. The last thing she expects to find is her first love back to sign on the dotted line.
But a first love won’t let them go…
The more time Cami and Ben spend together, the more they realize they have unfinished business. Suddenly, an impulsive decision could turn into a lost-but-found dream. But for Cami’s father, the inn holds memories of a terrible tragedy, and he wants to kill the deal.
Will their lost dreams survive another betrayal?
A heart-healing story of second chances set in the charming town of Hearts Bend!
When Mandy Boerma isn’t hanging out at her favorite coffee shop writing her next novel, she’s a busy mom. After meeting Prince Charming, they started their own version of Happily Ever in the Florida Panhandle. Nothing compares to life at the beach. While those early days included romantic sunset walks with sand between their toes, days are now filled with sand in the mom mobile, affectionately named Scottie, as she chauffeurs her daughters anywhere and everywhere their busy schedules take them. You can connect with Mandy at www.mandyboerma.com.