My First Guest

I'm a little excited about my guest today. She's a genuinely sweet lady who is an amazing poet. Many of you know her from Faithwriters. If you aren't already acquainted with her, take a few minutes to read her words. I think you'll be impressed.

VERNA COLE MITCHELL

Verna Jean Cole Mitchell—that’s who I am: a preacher’s daughter, who grew up to be a wife , mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, as well as an English teacher, a writer, and an editor.  

I have always “puttered” around with writing, and teaching the works of great poets gave me a desire to attempt to emulate them. After retirement, when I was looking for a writing outlet, I discovered Faithwriters and the weekly challenges. I was hooked. I rarely let a writing challenge go by without trying my hand, mostly poetry, and loving every minute of it. I appreciate the good work of Deb Porter, who has worked hard to keep these challenges going.

When I noticed that my writing folder had a pretty big collection of poetry, I told a good friend, who is an editor, and she insisted I compile a book of verse. With her help, I put together many of the challenge entries, plus poems I’d written through the years.  My wish was to do this as a heritage for my children and grandchildren, hence the family pictures in the first book, Don’t Frighten the Pansies.   

Having enjoyed working on the first book so much, I decided,  with my editor’s assistance,  to produce a second one, Somewhere Beyond the Blue, and a third one, that has recently come out, Blessings, Right, and Left. In each of my books, I’ve sought to include poems to inspire, to entertain, and to bring a smile.

This has been very much a family production, with my granddaughter-graphic designers making my books shine. I’m so proud of them.

I truly am thankful for every single blessing, right and left and in between, that has come from the hand of my Heavenly Father.

                                                                          

Links to Verna's books:

Don't Frighten the Pansies

Somewhere Beyond the Blue

Blessings, Right, and Left

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I hope you enjoyed getting to know Verna.

One final note - this Thursday when you're getting ready to eat turkey and pie, don't forget to give thanks for all you have.

And one more final note (pretty much negating the above being the final note) - if you're going shopping on Black Friday, you are a much braver soul than I am. Wear a crash helmet before you venture into the wild mosh pit of hysterical humanity hunting the elusive Super Bargain. Oh, and it probably wouldn't hurt to pray, either.

Happy writing!

Betty