I’ve been blessed to have a job that still keeps me working 8-5 during the pandemic (not the writing gig, but that’s going, too – ha!), so I have not had as much home at time as some. I have not accomplished a single spring cleaning item, nor have I organized any closets or garage shelves. What I have made time for is a little escapism through reading. Besides watching DVDs and playing board games with my grown kids who are home from college, reading is my favorite stress-reliever.
In an effort to help the reading public reduce stress and stay in a healthy frame of mind, I’m offering a giveaway. Enter to win one of four of my books by telling me which heroine best matches your coping style.
Contest runs through April 19th at midnight (Central time). Please use the form below to enter. Winner will be posted in the comments here on Monday, April 20.
What has been your favorite way to cope with stress during the pandemic?
Have you accomplished any amazing feats of reorganization around the house or checked off items that have been on the to-do list for eons?
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I loved *Heart on the Line* both times I read it. Grace resonated with me because she brought a steadiness and quietness to her work and her life, but a sense of adventure surfaced too. 🙂 And, the hero you created was perfect for her. Thank you for offering this contest!
Hi, Kim! Amos was dear to my heart since he was inspired by my husband and oldest son. We need more strong, nerdy heroes in romance fiction. Nice guys are the best! 🙂
I’m a mix of Abigail & Grace: LOVE baking, and don’t mind being cooped up for a bit. My household has loved each of your books…and they just keep getting better. “More Than Words Can Say” is my most favorite in wit, romance, and such a relatable character. Thank you for sharing your creativity with us!!! 🥰📚
Thanks, Becky! I’m a home-body by nature, so the shelter-in-place order hasn’t been too hard on me. Of course, we’re in an area where the lockdown is very loose. I actually still go to the office for the day job, so I’m not as confined as others.
Hubby and I love photography and are fortunate enough to live on a very small acreage outside of town visited daily by a wide array of critter visitors. Thankfully the weather warmed up (although we just had a cold snap around Easter). We are able to sit on the front porch and listen to nature while waiting to see which critters show up. We have a pair of bluebirds raising babies in one of our birdhouses. The cedar waxwings have migrated through. Deer show up a couple times of day and may be 2-3 or even as many at 8 at a time. Daffodils bloomed and now the flower seeds we planted are popping through. The hummers are showing back up.
Hubby and I both love to bake. Part of our time is spent in the kitchen. However, there’s only the two of us seniors here so we can only bake and eat so much.
So between keeping up with the normal chores of living (cooking, cleaning and laundry) and taking photographs, we are staying occupied and busy – thankfully.
That sounds lovely, Kay! I would love to enjoy a cup of tea on the porch and watch the animals. That sounds so peaceful.
You should have also included ‘Head In The Clouds’! Hahaha! Just like the rest of you, I enjoy reading and living in a ‘normal’ world when my world is not quite normal. 🙂
Honestly, though, I had to pick Charlotte because of the music. Music is ALWAYS my go-to as an outlet for my emotions.
You’re right, Rachel. Escaping through reading is perfect, and Head in the Clouds would have captured that to a T. Unfortunately, I don’t have any copies in my inventory to give away, so I had to leave Adelaide and Gideon out of the contest. So sad. I agree with you about Charlotte, though. Music is such a balm. I grew up playing in band and singing in church and I can’t imagine a life without music in it.
Like you I am continuing to work each day so I have not had time to do any big projects. I am cooking and baking more (so maybe Abigail), doing more laundry too. Our family has played a few board games, but there isn’t much “extra” time for me to read or quilt or bake more time consuming things. I’d really like to spring clean the house, which is also a bit more of a mess with the 2 daughters back at home, but just as soon as I get things straightened up, they inevitably get right back to being messy. I am not complaining though because I enjoy having them home for the time they are here. We live in a rural community so we other than going to work and one person going to the grocery store as needed we are staying home. It is a bonus if the weather is nice and we can get outside and get some yard work done, gardening prep or just enjoy some sunshine which definitely helps to improve one’s mood. We have a bible study at home on Sunday mornings since we are unable to attend church. The Lord is with us and we realize that this too shall pass.
Yes, I am so thankful that this pandemic hit right as spring was coming. Having the sun shining makes it so much easier to bear. I can walk for exercise and see lots of kids playing in their yards or riding bikes. It’s nice.
While I have not accomplished any great feats of re-organization, I have done some straightening and cleaning. I’ve enjoyed food preparation, napping, reading, etc. While I prefer to exercise at the Y in classes with wonderful instructors and super nice participants, I am exercising in my living room with weights, resistance bands, and routines I remember from my classes. My husband and I go for walks as well. Each evening my husband and I sit down with our separate books and enjoy quiet time reading. I’ve been able to maintain contact with friends through Zoom meetings for Bible study, Sunday school, and Weight Watchers. The convenience of modern technology has made it extremely easy to stay in touch with friends and family through telephoning, texting, emailing, “Facebooking”, etc.
It sounds like you and your hubby are enjoying some lovely together times. That’s wonderful, Suzanne! And, yes, we are blessed to face this during a time when technology allows us to still find ways to stay connected while at a distance.
Reading is my first coping mechanism, but baking comes in a close second! One big organization project I finished was consolidating all my books into plastic (18 gallon) storage totes. My poor dad and younger brother–they say I owe then 2 dozen chocolate chip cookies for carrying those 9 containers to the attic! 😀
I’d say cookies are an excellent currency for clearing family debts. 🙂
Such a fun & thoughtful giveaway during this COVID-19 crisis!
All of your books are wonderful Karen! ☺️😊😉
Praying for health & safety of your family 😊
Thank you, Emilee. I pray that you and yours are safe and well, too.
I’m definitely an Abigail! We’ve done a lot of baking, especially when we couldn’t get bread. We’ve made a lot of desserts, too. I haven’t accomplished any Spring cleaning, as at first this virus and quarantine were so distracting that even my reading fell off. But I’m back to my usual reading and not being a great housekeeper. May I remind you that I live in a household of men? (hubby and 2 adult sons) Nothing stays straight for very long!
Reading trumps housework at my domicile, too, Perianne. 🙂 I figure I might as well do what makes me happy in the little free time I have. When the house gets dirty enough to make me unhappy, then I’ll deal with it. Until then, bring on the books!
Well, I haven’t been very productive. My amazing feat, so far, has been to clean out my pantry! I managed one shelf a day. LOL My motivation is close to zero right now. I’ve managed to keep up on my reading, though!
That still counts, Winnie! Reading is better for you, anyway. 🙂
I’m pretty much a homebody anyway and w/ supervised custody for my daughter and her 4 kids, there’s not much sense to tackling any major cleaning projects. I read and sew to keep my sanity (i misspelled it saintity–that would work to–to remain a saint!) Thank you for the opportunity to win your books.
I read and cross-stitch which is nearly the same thing, Anne. Love it!
I’ve been playing Yahtzee at night with my college age son- fun stuff! No amazing feats. I have also been learning paleography doing a crowd-sourced transcription of Clara Barton’s handwritten family papers. It is called “By the People” for the Library of Congress, and I’m doing this as a work from home project for our small public library. Really interesting work.
How interesting, Kathleen! Do you ever play Yahtzee with Buddies in their app? I’ve become rather addicted. If you do, look me up. I’m “Karen W”. 🙂
I chose Charlotte for the music, but I would have picked Adelaide were she a choice. Haven’t read about Grace yet, but I am looking forward to her story. I am definitely NOT an Abby. I’ve been reading and writing. Lots of audiobooks! Thank you for the giveaway and the lovely post.
You’re so welcome, Rebecca. I don’t bake very often, either, but I sure to enjoy eating goodies baked by others. 🙂
For me I go in my potting shed and plant my seeds while I watch the birds at the feeders. This to me calms and relaxes me.
I think that relaxed me just by reading about it, Tish. 🙂
Reading has been my best coping mechanism during this pandemic.Thanks for the generous giveaway!
You are so welcome, Kerri! When my stress was at it’s peak, I craved escape more than anything else and was so thankful to have good books to distract me from the crisis.
Ha! No spring cleaning or sorting in this house! I’m too busy for it. I write during the day, check in with my kids far away, and check in with the daily conversations our pastor does on Facebook. When my husband and I watch television, we’ve really enjoyed “Lego Masters,” as it’s really distracting. The creativity on that show is amazing! We also watching a lot of Westerns. In addition, I’ve sent out little notes (snail mail) containing a tea bag or packet of instant Starbucks to special friends. It’s my way of meeting them for some social distance coffee!
I LOVE Lego Masters, Janice! I’ve been watching it with my kids (young adults). We’re a few weeks behind, but I hope to binge some this week. I love seeing their whimsical creativity. Shows we really are kids at heart.
Hey Karen! I’ve been enjoying keeping up with those I follow in ministry via Facebook live. I’ve also been watching their teachings on YouTube. I’m reading from my personal library. Yesterday, I organized one of my book shelves.
I’m looking forward to corporate worship and attending my Bible study. I miss my warrior sistas!
I miss corporate worship too, Caryl. With 5 in our family plus my in-laws from next door, we get a pretty good Witemeyer worship service going on Sunday mornings, but it’s just not the same.
Thanks so much for contributing to the relief efforts! Grace is my spirit animal I think because I’m normally a home body, but I miss my friends! I’m the one running Zoom, Messenger, Twitter Ana Facebook in the background!
What a perfect fit for Grace, Teri! I’m a home body, too, and since I have my kids with me, I’m pretty content. But if they were far away, I’d be on face-timing them like crazy.
Hi Karen,
Thank you for this opportunity to win one of your books. I chose Grace because I also know Morse Code. I have been “hiding out” at home taking care of my 18 month old grandson while his mom works (at Aldi).
I love that you know Morse code, Theresa! And what a blessing you are to your daughter. My mil watched my preschool kids for me when I went back to work back in 2003. What a godsend she and my father-in-law were!
I feel like I am a mixture of a few of them. I like to bake all the things, but I don’t need to eat them myself 😊. I like not having to be anywhere particular with time to read and garden and sew, but look forward to Zoom calls. But it would be nice to spend time with some people or go out to eat or shop leisurely with worrying about wearing a mask or not touching my face. But it does keep me remembering that God is in control and I will trust Him above all through this. 💜
The next time I have a masked bandit in one of my books, Phyllis, it’s going to conjure a whole different picture in my mind. This time the masked folks are the good guys. 🙂
What fun! Thanks for the chance to win a book!
You’re welcome, Vickie!
I suppose I’m most like Grace, although I don’t know Morse code. I write book reviews and stay at home most of the time anyway, so things haven’t changed much. In fact, I’ve had less time to read due to coordinating appointments and other things, so I’m actually behind! Haha!
Thank you so much for the giveaway!
Thank you for posting review, Sarah. That is such a big help not only to authors but to fellow readers as well. Have a blessed week!
Thankfully with the weather becoming nicer I’ve been in the garden! Also, my aloe has been reproducing like bunnies so I feel like I’m constantly repotting the babies! Also lots and lots of reading, and less and less tv, which is really odd to me!
Sounds like a nice way to welcome spring, Mimi. 🙂
I’ve had satisfying days that I’ve decluttered and organized. Other days when I want to yank my hair out. Then there’s day when I’m afraid I could sleep through the rest of quarantine. Yet other days I dive into books and God’s words and feel at peace. It’s been an interesting ride! 😉
The ups and downs of quarantine. I can relate, Jessica. 🙂
♥
I have tried some new dinner recipes as well as some new baking recipes. Seems appropriate right now.
My husband has been getting into the kitchen, which has been fun. Slightly weird at times, but overall, I love it. Since he’s working from home and I’m still driving to the office every day, he’s helping more with dinner. Even fixing it all on his own at times. I’m not going to complain about that!
I have been listening to audiobooks while getting a new roof and other repairs due to hail damage. Time just slips away as I listen. This month I have enjoyed a Sarah Eden marathon.
Nice, Patti! I did audiobooks for a couple years then took a break from them. It might be time to start them back up again, though. 🙂
We’re a homeschool family so life hasn’t changed to drastically for us.
Reading has been my get away from the crazy (blew through the Archer Bro books and now reading the Lantern Beach books by Cristy Barritt). We’ve been walking in the evenings since we have no where else to go.
Hello – on yet another viciously bright cold day in April, trees still bare, lambs shivering, east wind, sprained wrist, and covid 19…
How to get through this?
All those jobs I’d planned need two hands … Maybe next week…
.Love reading, and the institution where I work sometimes is closed for the duration, might never re-open, no idea if they’ll want me again.
Time to work, intensely, on books which did interest the big Five – try to make them better, and as my late mentor urged, just publish them. Today, once my key worker IT expert is free, we’ll work on the cover design for my next book,,,
Lockdown in a remote and beautiful place is a privilege – – qualified by sadness so much beauty we’re not allowed to share.
WE HAVE OUR WINNERS!!!
What a fun contest! I loved reading all of the comments. 🙂 Here are our winners:
More Than Words Can Say – Suzy Yates
Heart on the Line – Betsy Tieperman
A Worthy Pursuit – Margaret Viss
Full Steam Ahead – Jessica Alvarado
Congratulations, ladies! I’ll be emailing you soon!
Stay strong, everyone, and keep reading. It’s good for you. 🙂