Archive for the ‘Inspiration’ Category
FEMINIST FRIDAY 2018
Posted on: April 6, 2018
- In: Family | guest posts | History | Inspiration | Memories
- 19 Comments
I am honoured to have my story about my inspiring great-grandmothers featured on Bernadette’s blog. Some of you may have read it before but if you haven’t, please pop over and have a read and leave a comment if you wish.
“We can have feminist icons, but the real heroines are just quietly doing what is needed.” Osyth
The following post was written by Darlene Foster who writes at Darlenefoster.wordpress.com. It is the tale of her two great-grandmothers who made a fulfilling life for themselves and their families while enduring great hardships. What struck me about this story, of these two real heroines, was that Darlene said that because of the legacy of these women it has given her the confidence and courage to know that she can thrive under any circumstance.
A Tale of Two Katharinas, a Legacy of Strong Women
“People will not look forward to posterity who never look backward to their ancestors.” Edmund Burke
I was fortunate to know both of my maternal great-grandmothers. They passed away when I was in my early teens but I remember them well. They were formidable women with hearts of gold. One…
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My Books in Good Hands
Posted on: February 20, 2018
- In: Books | Inspiration | People
- 69 Comments
One of the joys of writing is hearing from readers and seeing pictures of them with my books. I am pleased to have many faithful followers of the Amanda Travels series. Some have been reading about Amanda’s travels since I published the very first book, eight years ago. Here are a few pictures of my books in the hands of young readers.
This avid reader bought a set of books for herself and for her friend, with her own money!
This young reader has been an Amanda fan from the start.
And she is still reading the books in Trinidad!
A sweet little Amanda fan.
Another special fan, from Australia!
Special visitors at a book signing.
These students still attend my presentations.
More students who love Amanda.
This clever young woman has already written three books of her own.
A special fan in Spain
A blogging friend’s gift to her granddaughter
Happy to get another Amanda book for her birthday.
Eager readers attend a book launch.
New fans at the first book launch, 8 years ago.
She enjoys reading her great-grandmother’s books
A keen fan reading to her great-great-grandmother.
I also love hearing from those who have read my books. Here is a lovely email from a young reader.
Hi, Darlene, my name is Kynnlei and Marion is my auntie. She gave me three of your books and they are some of my favourite books. Please keep writing and she will keep buying. We give you encouragement to do what you are passionate about.
And this from a young man being homeschooled who read two of my books for his reading assignments.
Dear Darlene:
I am doing a book report on your book titled, “Amanda in Alberta”. I liked it! My favourite part is the horse ride in chapter 6. I have been to many of these places, mostly with my dad in the semi truck. Did you visit all of the places in your book? Can you make a book of “Amanda in Iceland”? I think that would be awesome! Thank you for writing these amazing books!
Sincerely; Kegan
I understand he got very good marks on his assignments.
This is why I am so passionate about writing for kids!
If you have a picture of you or someone reading one of my books, please send it to me as I love to collect them.
- In: Inspiration | quotes
- 30 Comments
This is me some days!! Thanks for this Lynn.
Looking Forward
Posted on: January 4, 2016
- In: Dreams | Inspiration
- 36 Comments
2016 has started off well. We ate our twelve grapes at midnight for good luck, viewed fireworks from our terrace, and watched Bryan Adams bring in the New Year in London on television, while he played all my favourite songs. Then watched the amazing fireworks in London. It was a Spanish/English/Canadian New Year´s Eve for us.
12 grapes each to be eaten at midnight for good luck. A Spanish tradition
To learn more about this tradition read about it on Glamour Granny Travels http://www.glamourgrannytravels.com/2015/12/24/grapes-and-cava-a-spanish-new-years-eve-tradition/
On New Years day we went for lunch with my in-laws at a fabulous restaurant called La Herradura (The Horseshoe) where we enjoyed a delicious eight course meal and a Flamenco dance performance. A great start to the New Year.
La Herradura
Flamenco dancer
With my mother-in-law at La Herradura
New Year´s Lunch with the in-laws
Now it´s time for me to look forward and set goals for 2016.
1. Amanda on the Danube – The Sounds of Music successfully launched
2. Finish Amanda in New Mexico – The Ghost Hotel
3. Do more promoting of all the Amanda books and Pig on Trial
4. Connect with local schools and book stores
5. Continue to explore Spain, attend cultural events and write about them
6. Travel to Holland, France and England
7. Work hard at making new friends in Spain
8. Attend Pueblo Ingles with friends
9. Take time to read more
10. Practice Spanish
11. Keep learning more about writing
12. Enjoy my more relaxed life style
13. Look after my health by eating better and exercising more
14. Keep in touch with family and friends back home via social media and mail
15. Help other writers meet their goals
16. Be thankful for at least three things every day.
By writing these goals down and sharing them with you, my wonderful readers, I will be more committed to reach them.
Thank all of you for your encouragement and support over the years. I truly do appreciate it. May all your dreams come true in 2016!!
If you can dream it, you can do it! Walt Disney
I´ll leave you with two short videos of the flamenco show.
- In: guest posts | Inspiration | Writing
- 15 Comments
I am featured today on the wonderful blogsite Mother Daughter Book Reviews where I discuss how my photographs inspire my writing.
How Photographs Can Inspire Ideas
by Darlene Foster
As a writer of children’s books, I am often asked where I get ideas for my stories. I’m inspired by my travels for the most part and eager to share what I have seen and learned with my young readers. I start with a place, somewhere interesting, and include an adventure or a mystery for my main character, Amanda, to solve. Although I have the main idea, I often get stuck while putting the story together.
Read more of the article here
What Sparked My Dreams?
Posted on: September 1, 2015
- In: Dreams | Inspiration
- 14 Comments
If you would like to know what sparked my dreams as a child, read my guest post at March of Time Books, the new blog site of my dear English blogging friend Barbara Fisher.
What sparks a child’s dreams?
Guest post by Darlene Foster dreamer of dreams, teller of tales.
When I was little, my dear grandmother gave me a colouring book filled with pictures of children from around the world dressed in traditional garments. I loved that book and while colouring each page, dreamt of visiting those fascinating places. Growing up on a farm in the Canadian prairies, we didn’t venture far.
Read the rest of the article here Pop over to Barbara´s blog and you might see me in a sombrero!
What sparked your dreams as a child? I would love to know.
Life is Too Short
Posted on: September 24, 2014
- In: Dreams | Inspiration | quotes
- 22 Comments
I found this on the wonderful Beth Ann Chiles blog It’s Just Life. A blog I enjoy following regularly because you never know what gems you’ll find there.
Life is too short to not take the time to do something fun every single day.
Life is too short to not use the good dishes or eat in the dining room.
Life is too short to not wear the expensive perfume.
Life is too short to not say what is on your mind.
Life is too short to be wasted on silly disagreements.
Life is too short to not stop and admire every beautiful thing in nature that we happen upon.
Life is too short to not embrace new things.
Life is too short to not say I am sorry when we are wrong.
Life is too short to ignore someone in need.
Life is too short to not sample something new.
Life is too short to worry about a single thing that you can do nothing about.
Life is too short to blend in.
Life is too short to spend in negativity.
Life is too short to be living someone else’s dream.
Life is too short to not do something challenging.
Life is too short to not do what you love.
Life is too short to not tell those you love how much you love them every single day.
Life is too short to be mean.
Life is too short to just exist—go out and LIVE!
This week Beth Ann is giving away fabulous stuff everyday. (Because that’s just the kind of person she is!) Hop over to her blog, add a comment and you may win something marvellous.
I am about to make a major life change. (more about that later). This post helped me to realize I need to do this because after all – life is too short not to.
And this from Cynthia Baker’s blog Simple Pleasures where she matches her incredible photography with meaningful quotes.
Photograph by Cynthia Baker
Have you been given an opportunity to make a life change in the past? Are you glad you did? Was it worth it?
