Meet Ellie Marrandette.
She is one of the busiest and nicest persons I’ve meet online.
As a certified nutritional counselor, she blogs and gives seminars on “…how to use practical Biblical applications to overcome temptations and become your healthiest mental, physical and spiritual self.”
If you are a chocolate lover, as I am, you will be happy to learn of the amazing benefits of chocolate, including strengthening teeth enamel. Click here for more on this post.
She recently published her delightful debut novel Sometimes Marriage is a Real Crime and is writing a sequel to it.
If that is not enough, she has just released a new book titled Life’s Too Short to Eat Bad Cheese. What a fantastic title!
Ellie has asked me to participate in this Tour Through Blogland. Thank you Ellie for thinking of me and for all the wonderful things you said about me on your tour.
Describing my creative process
What are you working on at the moment?
These days I am editing my second crime novel and working on a revised edition of Missi’s Dating Adventures.
In this second edition I am inserting lessons Missi has learned from each unsuitable date.
How does my work differ from others in my genre
My contemporary women’s fiction is about middle aged women who find themselves single again. In my novel Getting To Mr. Right I explore the effects of father abandonment on a woman’s relationships with men.
As for my crime novels I stay away from gore or explicit violence. I have often wondered how the wives, children and other relatives cope when they find out that their husband/father/brother/son is a serial killer. In it I tackle this theme where Annie, a nineteen year old woman falls for Niko not knowing how disturbed he is. I like to write about what drives people to commit a crime and I especially like to dwell into the effects crime has on its victims. I’m not too certain if that makes me different.
Why do I write/create what I do?
I write so that I might inspire, encourage, and entertain. I write because I like doing so.
How does my writing/creative process work?
It’s a mystery and magical as well. The greatest skill I have is trust. I never force anything. I try to be as organic as possible. If I’m stuck, I’ll give my brain the problem to solve. I need to be patient for the solution to come. I think creativity works like this.
I’ve learned that solutions can come anywhere and anytime. Maybe during a yoga class (that happens) while listening to a podcast or overhearing someone in line at the grocery store. It’s a matter of being awake and making the connections.
As Ellie featured me on Tour Through Blogland, it gives me great pleasure to introduce to you Ann Fields, a wonderful storyteller, author and co-founder of the Writers Block a non-profit organization that supports African American writers.
Ann’s books have received national coverage in various media outlets and nominations for industry awards, including the Romance Writer’s of America’s Best Multi-Cultural Romance Award.
Before retirement from corporate, Ann Fields was a staff writer for an international ministry; a public relations and marketing professional for a sports management firm; a technical writer in the transportation field; an analyst in the telecommunications industry; and a manager in the regulatory arena. She values her nearly 20 years of varied corporate experience as it provides much fodder for stories and characters.
Now, as a full-time writer, Fields focuses on writing novels, short stories, and screenplays.
Through my writings, I choose to be part of the mass movement aimed at advancing this world in a positive way and aimed at helping humanity truly embrace “all that is good, noble, pure, and right.” If, through my writings, I touch people emotionally, or move people to think about long-held beliefs, or force people to engage in positive legacy work, then I consider myself a successful writer.
Ann, I wish you all the luck and success with your writing and your bucket list. And I am truly honored to have you as part of my blogging community.
For more on Ann please visit:
Thank you Ann for for accepting the nomination to Tour Through Blogland.
Here are the simple rules:
1. Pass the tour to another blogger (up to 4 others).
2.Give them the rules and a specific Monday to post. (Ann has chosen March 23)
3. Answer those 4 questions about your creative process (allowing other bloggers and visitors to know what inspires you).
Feel free to choose your Tour Through Blogland Photo
Carol Balawyder 
What a lovely post Carol. You truly honor me. Isn’t it fascinating to discover how the creative wheels move inside other writers minds? No wonder you accomplish as much as you do! Ann Fields, sounds like an amazing person as well. I’ll search her out! These posts are so much fun, thank you for passing along this award. Blessings, (I’m pleased to say that after our move, I’m starting to get some speaking engagements in Ohio, yay!)
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I’m so happy to hear about your speaking engagements. All the best, Ellie.
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I enjoy reading these types of posts. Interesting to learn of authors’ practices. ❤
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Thank you for your comment. Ellie and Ann are two very different but very wonderful writers. 🙂
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Yes, and that’s what makes the world interesting. ❤
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“I’ve learned that solutions can come anywhere and anytime.”—Isn’t that the truth? That’s why I think even when we’re not physically writing at the computer, we’re often still writing.
The premise of your crime novel sounds intriguing!
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The problem with being a writer is that you can never really close the office door at 5 o’clock.
Thanks for being here. 🙂
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That’s very true. In fact, my cerebral office door opened at four am this morning when I woke up and couldn’t get back to sleep. I kept thinking of some things I needed to add to my epilogue. But that is not the time I want to be working. 😉
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It’s no use fighting it. It has a will of its own. 🙂
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Carol,congratulations on the well-deserved Tour Through Blogland Award. This was one of my favorites. Enjoyed reading your write-up. Your books sound intriguing and I look forward to reading more of your writing. I’ll certainly check out your interesting author nominee. Christine
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Thanks for your encouraging comments, Christine. I’m so happy to have you here. I really like your blog…Your sunsets are fabulous. 🙂
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Thank you, Carol!
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Wonderful of you to introduce us to Ellie and Ann here, Carole! I like that Ann’s book is titled “Stop Stalling and Write!” – okay, I better go then… 🙂
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HaHa! 🙂
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Carol, beautiful job! Thank you so much for the great write-up and more so for the invitation to participate in A Tour through Blogland. I so enjoy learning what sparks other writers’ creativity and to read about their WIPs. Eagerly awaiting your next release….sounds fascinating.
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Thank you Ann for accepting to participate and I am looking forward to reading about your work in progress and your creative process. I’m certain to pick up some tips. 🙂
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Pingback: Tour Through Blogland | Ann Fields
Great post! Very interesting to learn about Ellie and Ann, I’m dashing over to them now. , . as I always have to go investigate wonderful writers you recommend! 🙂
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The magic of blogging is all the wonderful people one gets to meet and to share and talk about our passions. Most of my family and friends aren’t all that interested in talking about writing and the creative process and so blogging gives me a precious place to nourish this important part of who I am. Thank you, my dear friend, for being here. 🙂
Ellie and Ann are two great writers and beautiful persons. I’m sure you’re going to love Ellie’s health tips.
Ann has such integrity and class. I feel so lucky to have you as well as so many other wonderful people as part of my blogging community.
Somethings, I imagine a scene where we all meet at a conference or something. 🙂
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Carol you are so sweet! I’m sure we are kindred souls, from somewhere, from some past? I feel exactly as you do. Nobody in my physical world here understands the life of a writer. They don’t grasp all that is involved for a book or even a blog post’s creation. In fact, most in my circles don’t even like to read! How can that even be right? Lol. I am also grateful to have my online circle of friends in the writing world. Wouldn’t it just be fabulous if one day we could all meet? Well, I think eventually we will! And no doubts, you will be right up there in the high ranks of authors sooner than you think! ❤ I await your next book! xo
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🙂
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This is so beautifully presented, Carol. You make me want to read both books — of course the content speaks for itself — and I thoroughly enjoy reading about the creative process for different writers. Thank you.
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So sweet of you to say, Silvia. Thank you for being here! 🙂
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Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
I love the Tour Through Blogland awards as they get behind the scenes with some of our favourite bloggers.. here is Carol Balawyder..
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Love these behind the scene blog tours. You get to meet lots of interesting bloggers, writers and artists who make everything new again. Another wonderful post. 🙂
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Thank you. So glad you enjoyed. I hope you got a chance to visit Ellie and Ann’s blog. 🙂
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I learn a lot through your blog Carol, thanks!
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It makes me happy to hear that! 🙂 Thank you.
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Thanks for sharing your process and inspiration, Carol. Very interesting and cool. Cheers!
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Thank you, Sirena…It’s always a pleasure to visit your blog. I always find inspiration there. 🙂
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Thank you Carol, an inspiring and interesting article! 🙂
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
JUST DON’T GET “BLOGGED DOWN!!!” 😀
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