Change, like sunshine, can be a friend or a foe, a blessing or a curse, a dawn or a dusk. (William Arthur Ward)
Change – sometimes it’s good. Sometimes it’s not. But it’s inevitable. My mother used to tell me that the one thing we could be sure of is that things will change. That’s just life. We get older. Our children grow up and get married. We joyfully become grandparents. We do our jobs. Sometimes we have to change jobs. Sometimes we don’t change jobs but we change how we do those jobs. I’ve certainly changed how I write over the years. I hope I’ve improved. Actually I know I’m a better writer than I was when I started my first book at age ten. But I’m not really talking about the change in my skill. I’m talking about how the process of getting words on paper to tell a story has changed. Even that phrase is no longer exactly accurate. The words aren’t flowing out of a pencil or pen onto paper. They are going up one letter at a time on a word processor. That’s a monumental change from how I began writing. That was in a wire bound notebook with an ink pen. I loved my fountain pen when I was a teen. Had to have blue black ink that I bought in a glass jar. I don’t remember what it cost.
Some Things are Worth Breaking the Piggy Bank
Then I got my first portable typewriter by breaking my piggy bank and counting out my nickels and dimes to buy a used portable from one of my older sister’s friends. I can still see those pennies and other coins stacked up to count toward the twenty-five dollars I paid for the typewriter. I used that typewriter for years, but then I graduated to a big office manual typewriter. I don’t remember where I got it, but I’m sure it was used too. Next came an IBM Selectric typewriter bought used, of course, from an office that was replacing their typewriters with newer models. At last I made enough money writing to buy a brand new electric typewriter with a correction ribbon. I thought I had found writer’s heaven. I still have that typewriter up in the attic. I don’t think it works, but I have it anyway. Then again, I still have that very first portable around somewhere and half the keys are messed up on it.
Change can be Stressful
Finally, I entered the modern age and got a word processor – again from an office that was getting new equipment. All I knew how to do with that was turn it on. It had no instructions with it. None. The book, DOS for Dummies, saved my sanity and helped me figure out how to used the system. I don’t have that old computer anymore. In fact, my grandson took great joy in dismantling it to see its innards when he was around seven or eight. Several computers followed in its wake until the one I’m using now that I did purchase new. And now, I’m ready to start shopping for a new, more powerful model. Computers age quickly in this day and time. Sometimes getting a new one ages me quickly too!
Change is Part of Life
All that to say that change is inevitable in our day to day lives. And on-line too! My website just got a complete makeover. Same way to get to it. www.annhgabhart.com. Still has lots of information about my books and about me. Lots the same and at the same time, much changed. So how do you like it? One major difference is that now my blog will be part of the website. I hope that makes it easier for you to check up on what’s happening here. And while I’m changing, I’m going to make another change to and start posting once a week instead of twice a week. Twice was probably more than most of you wanted to read anyway. So watch for a new post late on Sunday or early on Monday.
A New Giveaway to Celebrate a New Website
But we’ll still have our contests and book giveaways here. In fact to celebrate, I’m going to have a new giveaway right now just for you who visit One Writer’s Journal and check out my new website. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment telling me what saying is on my sweatshirt in one of the pictures or if you have trouble finding that, you can tell me how many grandkids I have to get an entry to win your choice of one of my books. I’ll pick three winners. Remember, you have to leave a way for me to contact you should you be one of the lucky winners. Deadline for entries is midnight EST August 1, 2015. You must be eighteen to enter and winners will be selected by random drawing.
As always thanks for reading.
Comments 33
How blessed you are with nine precious grandchildren!
You writing is a gift God gave you, and I appreciate the ways you use that gift in your books and in your blog.
Please enter me in the contest.
I do feel I was blessed with a gift to tell stories in print, Mary Louise. And I have definitely been blessed by those nine grandchildren. A reward for getting older. Thank you so much for reading my stories and for checking out my blog posts and also for looking around my new website.
First I want to thank you for the beautiful Shaker box and the book The Innocent. I am amazed that with all the people who enter your contests that I actually won!!
You have 9 grandchildren.
You are a very talented writer and looking forward to what you come up with next.
Thanks, Diana. Glad your prize package found its way to you safely. Hope you enjoy the Shaker box and my story too. I did have a lot of entries, but your number came up winner this time. Odds won’t be as long for this contest, so who knows? You might win again!
Love the new website, and the frequent references to your grandkids, five of which are mine. Love you Mom!
Those grandkids of mine are worth plenty of mentions. Fun to see your comment here, Johnny. Glad you liked the new website. I’ve only added a few gray hairs trying to figure everything out, but nobody is seeing them. So that won’t matter. LOL. Hope you all had a great week.
Dearest Ann,Grandchildren are one of the biggest blessings in life, and you have nine!!! I have four and I love them to death, they bring me such joy, every day! You get to enjoy them more than you could your own children!!! Change means learning lessons too! Taking out or getting rid of mistakes and keeping yhe good and expanding on it!!!
I love your books, you are an awesome writer!!!
I would be honored and blessed to br entered in the giveaway!
God Bless You and Your Family!!!
cavallofrances@yahoo.com
Grandkids do have a way of making the sun shine a little brighter when they come to visit, Frances. So glad you have some sweet grandbabies to bless your life.
You’re so right about change. It’s good when the change can be for the better. Thanks so much for reading my books and for checking out my website here. I’ve got you entered in the drawing.
God has blessed you with 9 precious grandchildren & I know you are very proud of each one of them. Grandchildren are such a blessing & I enjoy seeing pictures of yours on your posts! Thanks for entering me in your giveaway!
Thanks for stopping by, Janet, and “counting” my grandkids. Also I appreciate you joining the fun on my Facebook page.
You didn’t leave a way to contact you, but you can let me know that later.
9 grandkids….GREAT pictures! Thanks for the giveaway!
Got you entered, Connie. Some of those pictures are a few years old. When I find that extra day in the week, I’ll do some more updating.
I’ve got your name in the drawing, but I will need a way to contact you should you be a winner.
9 grandkids. Great website.
Thanks for stopping by to check out my new place, Ola. I always enjoy hearing from you. And you found out about those grandkids, so your name is in the giveaway hat for the drawing.
Loved your interesting post, Ann – and love your new blog, so pretty!!
Answer to question: 9 grandkids
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!!
bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks, Bonnie. Glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks also for giving a shout-out about it on your Facebook page. I appreciate that. You did find the number of those grandbabies, so I’ll throw your name in my giveaway hat for the drawing.
It depends on which sweatshirt. Hmm…Champs? If that isn’t right I know you have 9 grandchildren! You already know how much I loooove your Shaker books and I’m so thrilled you wrote another! When we moved into our new home the change was good, but I sure do miss having my kids at home. They are grown now, but have given me four wonderful gkids! Love your website by the way!
dianalflowers(at)aol(dot)com
I am persistent if nothing else. I saw a Champs sweatshirt on you on FB and a Kentucky one (I think.) :/
Hi, Diana. So glad you’ve enjoyed my Shaker books. As for that sweatshirt, you weren’t quite persistent enough. One person has found it, but she couldn’t get her comment to show up here. But as I told Amy, it’s not the Champs one. I’m going to have to hunt up that picture. Didn’t know I had another sweatshirt out there. But the one I had you looking for has a “literary” saying on it. LOL. If I’ve made you curious, check out the devotional link under Meet Ann.
I’ve got you entered in the giveaway. You did find out about those grandbabies. And persistence is a very good attribute, especially for a writer.
I looked everywhere but there! And I would love to end up in one of your books! haha
You have 9 grandchildren. I love your books.
Caraole, thanks so much for dropping by to check out my new website. And even more thanks for reading my books. I do appreciate that.
You found the grandkid number so I’ve got you entered in the drawing. But if you win, I’ll need a way to contact you. Either an address or how I might reach you on Facebook.
I give up looking for the sweatshirt picture, but you do have nine grandkids!
I remember back in the day typing school papers on our old typewriter. We thought the one with the correction tape was the best invention ever! At least it was until Mom decided we needed to save the more expensive correction tape for “important” stuff and bought a fabric tape that us kids could use for our less important stuff.
That correction ribbon was a wonderful invention, Amy. I never minded buying those little spools. In fact, I probably still have some stuck away in a closet somewhere. 🙂
That sweatshirt was out there, but it’s not the Champs one. It has a “literary” saying on it. You’ll know what I mean if you find it. You have to check out the devotional page.
Hi Ann!
You have 9 beautiful grandchildren! I am expecting my 8th, girl, next month! I’m only one behind you!!
Love your new website!!
Sherry
Congratulations on the new grandbaby on the way. I won’t be having any more to add to the mix until the greats come along. But nine is a good number.
I’ve got you entered in the drawing. Thanks for stopping by to check out my website.
Hi Ann – I just love your new website – congratulations! And I really, really enjoyed ‘The Innocent’, as I told you, I think it’s the best one yet! But I say that with each new book.
You have 9 wonderful grandchildren and I look forward to more Shaker novels.
Rachel
Well, it’s nice to think I’m improving with each book, Rachel. So glad you enjoyed the new Shaker story. Got you entered in the drawing. Thanks.
Hi, Miss Ann! Your new website is beautiful! You have been blessed with nine amazing grandchildren. How wonderful! Thank you so much for the giveaway opportunity, and congratulations on the makeover.
texaggs2000 at gmail dot com
Thanks so much for coming over and checking out my new website, Britney. And finding that info about my beautiful grandkids. You’re in the running for one of those books now.
Thanks for checking out my website, Susan. You got that grandkid number right so you’re entered in the giveaway.
You’re so right about those correction papers. They were the pits, but believe it or not, so much better than the typewriter erasers we had to use before that. They did have that cute little broom-like brush on the end to sweep away the eraser crumbs. 🙂 And I don’t even want to think about the days when I had to try to use carbon paper to make copies of my manuscripts when I was typing them. Copy shops came along just in time to save my sanity. LOL.
You have 9 amazing grandchildren. Congratulations!
I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on change. I remember earning money while I was in college by typing people’s papers and assignments on my typewriter. I was also thrilled to get a typewriter with a correction ribbon after having to use the correction paper for many years. Now, I can’t imagine how I got through school without a computer!
Thanks for a great contest!
smhparent at hotmail dot com
Oops, Susan. I hit some wrong keys somewhere and answered your comment under Britney’s. New websites are learning experiences. I am surely giving my brain some exercise.