1/25/16, Hibernating and Lots of Writing!
Hi Everyone,
I hope you’re okay, and staying warm wherever you are!! It seems to be cold everywhere (except tropical places), and the weather is wintry in all of ‘my’ cities: cold, gray and rainy in Paris, rainy and chilly in San Francisco, and a blizzard in New York. Two of my daughters are snowed in there, while it continues to snow (with very strong winds), and they’re in a very dangerous situation: boredom has driven them to shopping online. Uh Oh!!! Here comes trouble!! It’s a good thing that’s not me. I’ve only looked to shop online a few times, and I suspect I could become addicted to it, if I knew how to do it efficiently. And they’re much more Internet savvy than I am, so I hope the snow stops soon!! I’m sorry I’m not in New York right now, I LOVE snow, although a blizzard might be too much of a good thing. But it looks beautiful and adds a touch of magic (until it turns into a mess a few days later). My daughters say the wind is so strong, that you can’t see more than a few feet in front of where you’re walking. The city was declared in a state of emergency on Saturday, the airport was closed, and only emergency vehicles were allowed on the road, so everyone is stuck at home (while some people shop online!!!). I have a cousin in Washington, DC who said that in the blizzard there, it took her three hours to get home, a distance that normally takes her fifteen minutes!!!
I’m not ‘stuck’ at home, but chose to be at home this past weekend, still doing a lot of writing, and enjoying being tucked in at home. Last week was busy and interesting with the usual ups and downs, some good news, some less good, working on manuscripts, and some meetings. A little shopping here and there, for my kids, and for me (I bought myself a bracelet, and am happy with it). And am editing, and working on ideas for new books. I have to admit, I love my weekends tucked in at home when I’m writing….or any time!!! And when I want to take a break, I watch an old episode of Downton Abbey, which I always love.
I’m lucky that I’ll be spending four days this week with one of my daughters, she’s coming to stay with me while she works, and this coming weekend I’ll be with three of them. And I will see more of my kids next week. I’ll be doing another Facebook chat on February 3rd from 11 am to 1pm Pacific time, so I hope you’ll chime in and contact me directly during the chat—-and I hope I’ll have time to answer whatever you send me. I type as fast as I can, to answer as many as I can. I wish I could answer them all!!!
I’ve had lunches and dinners with friends recently, which is always fun, and will be doing more of that this week. I’m more interested in the friends than the food or the restaurant, since I’m not a big eater, and not a ‘foodie’. The meal is just a good excuse to meet up with friends I love. And another friend spent the night at my house last week, and it was fun to chat until late—-and she arrived bearing chocolates, there is no better treat!!! Fun evening chatting with a friend and catching up while eating chocolates!!
I hope you have some fun plans this week. And that you’re not snowed in anywhere. And if you are, I hope you’re reading my new book “Blue”. I really, really hope you love it…..and that all is well with you.
Much love, Danielle
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What better way to spend these wintry days than indoors,cozy and content doing indoors stuff like television watching, or writing or reading and visiting with friends. I think chocolates were made for days like these!
Happy Writing, Danielle!! 🙂
Danielle,
I did not imagine your city of New York as beautiful and magical, snowed! These 56 pictures are dreaming!
http://www.msn.com/fr-ch/actualite/photos/%C2%AB-snowzilla-%C2%BB-les-plus-belles-photos-instagram-de-la-neige-%C3%A0-new-york/ss-BBoG6mm#image=35
But what do the girls to use, slides and snowballs!
Charles
Danielle,
I wanted to share a few thoughts about “Blue” now that I am finished. I hope that I am not revealing too much and that is it ok to post here.
Blue and Ginny stole my heart. The opening is captivating as Ginny walks down by the river.
I was rooting for Ginny and Blue the whole time.
Andrew also moved me because he took all the adversity he had been through and went back to help others gong through the same thing. He could have turned to alcohol and drugs to kill the pain but chose to turn his pain into power by helping others because he understands.
I will never forget my first high risk case as a crisis intervention and suicide prevention counselor for youth. After I deescalated the high risk call and brought it to a close I broke down crying. Then a feeling came over me like a warm blanket. The thought that came to me was in a question: If I could go back and have all the pain that led me to become a suicide prevention counselor erased would I do it and why? My answer was no because that is what made me effective in helping others. There was a profound stillness in my office with me. Perhaps it was divine Love.
I also remember serving on the special grand jury in Chicago years ago where we listened to heartbreaking stories of abuse and molestation against children. Somebody asked how does a child ever get over something like that.
Perhaps one way to healing is by going back and helping others going through the same thing because they understand just like Andrew did. Or simply helping others who are worse off like Ginny did with her Human Rights work.
Perhaps it is not so much what happens to us but how me react to it that can make all the difference. Do we let it take us down of turn our pain into power by helping others.
I honestly believe that one act of kindness can make all the difference to free somebody up so they can go on to find healing and fulfill their destiny. Forgiveness is also essential to set yourself free.
Perhaps Blue will help the homeless one day or take the path that Andrew did by being a force for good because he understands and had been there too.
Great job on this book! Moved me to the core.
God bless you, Danielle. But I know Father/Mother God already has.
Love shine a light!
Truth, Wisdom, Love and Sincerity, to ALL Mankind.
Rob Scott
Oaxaca, Mexico
cant wait to read new books…hehe.
I’ve reading Chuck Palahniuk have you ever read his works? You should. It’s a little differente from yours, but it has many “messages” alike.
Love always.
Keyla
Rob !
Do not complicate your thinking, Rob, you’re hurt you unnecessarily! There are three types of people, those who have never suffered, those who suffered and survived thanks to the help of others, and finally those who have suffered and are still suffering.
Those who suffered have discovered what it is, others not. Then we find two categories, those that will help others and those that can not and / or do not want.
Forgiveness and generosity are not accessible to everyone! And yes ! As the world is unfair! We are all different … I support this injustice, admiring those who are able to help us! We watch you, we hear you, we lissen you, we speak to you and trying to cheer you up!
Pat.
Pat, sorry if you feel there is some confusion in my writings and sharing here. I’ll try and clarify a little here.
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern.
– Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Perhaps you don’t “get it” with my postings here as Danielle Steel’s writings are are full of hope and finding healing in the heart of darkness. “Blue” is an example of that and I am attracted to those stories and I feel many people are attracted to her books for this reason too.
“Blue” does cover some heavy topics of homelessness, suicide and molestation of children. But it educates and leaves the writer with hope. I simply tried to point out what can lead to healing for those who want it in my previous post here.
Danielle Steel even spent 11 years and her own money helping the homeless under the cover of darkness for those who were in their most desperate hour of need. This is an example of one person making a difference. I recommend her book “Helping the homeless”.
She also has numerous foundations set up to help others. Another example of one person making a difference.
I like to focus on those who not only suffered but who found there way out or are looking to find there way out. There is no greater story to me than this and the icing on the cake is when they go back and help others because they understand.
“Forgiveness and generosity are not accessible to everyone!”-YOUR WORDS HERE
I strongly disagree here. The more you have been wronged or hurt by somebody the more needed and important forgiveness becomes because it sets YOU free. Otherwise all that anger is like a poison destroying yourself. I’ll enclose a link on this topic discussing the need for forgiveness by Oprah below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbz5IGjKZe8
Finally, generosity IS accessible to everyone. It can be as simple as a kind word at the right time that can make all the difference or doing some type of volunteer work. Perhaps it is just spending time with a friend in need over a bowl of cherrios. It doesn’t have to be the Disney trip. Or sitting with a homeless individual on a cold winters day and talking so they don’t feel so lonely.
I hope this clarifies any so-called confusion.
Yes, I have experienced hardship and adversity but I find things to fill me with hope and this website and author (Danielle Steel) does exactly that becaue she has experienced unthinkable hardship of losing a child to suicide. But she did not give up and she helps and inspires others.
I think it is cool to read her blogs as they leave me inspired and full of hope.
Perhaps I’ll write my own book some day to pay it forward.
Truth, Wisdom, Love and Sincerity, to ALL Mankind.
Rob Scott
Oaxaca, Mexico
I love how you share these details with us and how you are always so busy! I wish I could be on the facebook chats you have, but always seem to be at work then! Happy February!
Lorraine
So waiting to hearing from You, as always:)
Every day I am checking your blog and I am dissapointed when the ‘box’ is empty. Today I feel dissapointed 🙁
Reading your current thoughts is better than a new book, because there is a bigger connection via internet. So odd! Never thought that I would say this:)
For me, reading You is probably like Downton Abbey episodes to You. I cherish every single post and I am waitin for a new one.
Lots of love,
Sylvia
Its a great stuff to every one,Great job on this book! Moved me to the core.
Dear Mrs Danielle Steele
I,am just writing to say that I have read on of your books called mixed blessing, it was great I really enjoyed it, and I,am searching for many more famous
titles. I thank you so much.