This Story is About a Real Person

I have some interesting news! 

I've taken on a project to write a story of a friend whose life has been less than stellar. In fact, she's been through about the most horrible and heinous things anybody could go through. But, she's in her 70's now and really wants her story told so she can help others who have experienced similar things . . . and to tell them to speak up about it. 

If your first reaction to this is "There's no way I want to read anything like that," I totally understand. But . . . if you've ever read my novel, Blemished Beauty, you know that I have written about extremely delicate things in a very non-intrusive, tactful, and let's-skip-the-awful-details way, while at the same time portraying the seriousness of the issue. Plus, this is a story about a real person. And a dear friend of mine.

AND since I know you are a fiction lover, this story will read like a novel, not like a typical biography. 

So what now?

I am going to post installments of this story starting next week on Substack. If you've never heard of Substack, don't worry. 

➡️ If you sign up to Brenda's Books Fan Club you will get the posts sent directly to you! 

        You can do so here: https://www.brendasbooks.net/fan-club.html

➡️ Or, if you're on Substack, you can just follow me there!

      

       https://substack.com/@brendasbooks

Take Care,💕

Brenda Hodnett

101 Things I'm Thankful For +1

On Thanksgiving day growing up, each individual around the dinner table would mention one thing they were thankful for. 

Today I'm going to give you much more.

101 Things I'm Thankful For + 1

1. Jesus, My Savior, My Friend

2. My stellar children

3. My stud of a husband

4. My friends (the good ones) 😊

5. My exceptional parents

6. My amazing siblings

7. People who are kind

8. People who are happy

9. People who are understanding

10. People who are accepting

11. People who are caring

12. People who are honest

13. My church family 

14. Music, all kinds of music 🎶

15. Grand pianos (if they're in tune!) 

16. Every beautiful instrument

17. The ability to sing (you know, when I'm not hacking)

18. Books! 📚

19. Clean romance! 💕

20. Clean movies

21. WATERFALLS

22. Holidays 

23. Christmas music

24. When someone else cooks

25. When someone else does the dishes

26. Mountains 🌄

27. The never-ending ocean

28.  Food

29. My Writers' Group ✍️

30. HOT showers, especially long ones

31. Sleep!

32. Medicine

33. Doctors

34. Policemen

35. Firemen

36. People who fight for freedom!

37. Veterans

38. My free country

39. The constitution

40. The scriptures

41. Heaters

42. Glowing fires 🔥

43. Warm blankets

44. TREES 🌳

45. Sunshine ☀️

46. Water sports 

47. The opportunity to watch my amazing daughter play volleyball! 🏐

48. And my amazing son play tennis!🎾

49. Marching bands

50. Live orchestras

51. Live theater

52. Big choirs

53. Intimate choirs

54. Parks

55. Sunday strolls with my love

56. Deep conversations with friends

57. People who love me even though they know my imperfections well

58. Good book reviews

59. Book sales

60. People who are sincere

61. Family game nights

62. Impromptu family dance parties

63. Santa Clause 🎅🏼

64. Christmas morning 🎄

65. Winter vacation

66. Summer vacation!!

67. Spring break 

68. Milk

69. COLD water

70. My dentist (yes, really!)

71. Jokes 

72. Lagoon

73. All my many wonderful family memories 

74. The ability, opportunity and privilege to pray to God

75. Answers to prayers

76. Forgiveness of God

77. Forgiveness of others

78. Honest educators

79. The computer in my pocket (my phone)

79. Google

80. MY BED

81. Electricity

82. Running water 

83. THE VOICE

84.  Late-night story reading with my kids and their cousins

85. My imagination that comes up with pretty cool fiction people

86. Snuggly cats

87. Ice cream 🍦

88. Family bike rides 🚲

89. One-on-one conversations with my child

90. All children

91. The incredible youth at church

92. The outstanding youth leaders that work with me at church

93. The gracious parents of my daughter's volleyball team

94. My children's good choices

95. My children's good friends

96. My husband's hugs

97. Hugs from anyone, really

98. Family road trips

99. Rain

100. Homemade pie 🥧

101. My journal

+ 1 My faith

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! 

🦃🥧❤️

Only 5 Days Left!

Only 5 Days left to enter my Book Giveaway!

 

I'm giving away 100 ebook copies!

You can enter the Giveaway through Goodreads. 

Sara's War is a fast-paced, future-war, dramatic and humorous, military romance. 

For virgin ears! 👂💓📚

This book is my baby -- the first book I ever wrote. It started off as Sara in the Army. Originally, I planned on making this a duology. So the ending was pretty abrupt and there were a lot of empty plot holes. So I revamped it entirely. I took out about four chapters and added eight, which includes a couple of new and important antagonists. 

Now it's have a complete novel with all loose ends tied up. (Pretty sure, anyway!) 😂 

And a new title: Sara's War. 💖 

If you do pick up Sara's War (remember--it's free for 5 more days!), please consider writing me an honest review. I will love you forever! 😍😘

Take Care, 💕

Brenda Hodnett 

P.S. Sara's War won three awards! 

     Two from MDIFF (Multi Dimension Independent Film Festival): 

     1. Exceptional Achievement for Best Podcast Stories

     2. A Finalist for Best Podcast Stories

 

And one through FilmHaus in Berlin! 

             1. Semi-Finalist

I Made It!

I just received my second paycheck from Author's Republic. Guess how much it was for? No, really take a guess!

Can you believe that sometimes I get a whole 💲0.64 for a whole audiobook? I know, I am seriously going to be racking in the dough!💸💸💸

Here's a reel to help you join in my celebration 🥳

https://instagram.com/stories/brendas_books/3230983790344153980?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igshid=bmZzbDNlenkydGFr

This really makes you want to change your career to mine now, doesn't it? 😀

Take Care 💕

Brenda Hodnett

Happy Halloween 🎃

I love the Fall. Don't the colors and crunchy leaves 🍂 just make you so happy? My son and I spent many hours racking leaves (and we got it done just before it snowed! 🙌)

And then it was trick-or-treating time! 

I'm glad my youngest is still young enough to enjoy trick-or-treating and all the Halloween festivities. 

This was one of his favorite costumes ever. 😍

Do you or your kids dress up for Halloween? Send me pictures!

Take Care, 💕

Brenda Hodnett