Rita Klundt, Author and Speaker

Just in case you missed getting a flyer at church over the past 2 Sundays. IT'S NEXT MONDAY!!

It's not too late to sign up - either on the sheet in the foyer or by contacting me.

https://ritaklundt.com/2023/11/night-shifts-and-daydreams/

Night Shifts and Daydreams - Rita Klundt Her lower back ached, and there were three hours more before she would be heading home. She lit up the screen at the foot of her sickest patient’s bed to…

Ask me how much I know this to be true.

Zack Williams. .MercyMe and Toby Mac after this. Fun worship! Love it!!

Whether you are a writer who needs a critique group or a curious writer who just wants to connect with other Christian writers, check us out!

The Land of Lincoln Word Weavers will meet on Saturday, November 11 . We'll be on the campus of Open Arms in Lincoln, IL.
The address is 1321 Route 10.

We want to respect your busy schedule, so we start promptly at 10 and finish by noon. Comment to this post and one of us will be in touch.

It's gonna be great!

This is one of the most difficult blog posts I've written. I hesitated to publish it. It is not autobiographical, although my feelings are expressed. And I don't know any one woman who carries all of these issues, although some carry many of them. I hope it speaks to women on both sides of recovery or forgiveness, to the weariness of depression, the menacing effects of anxiety - yet somehow points to the neverending love of a Heavenly Father.
Before you are seated in your chair (or pew) tomorrow morning, look around. Someone needs to be seen or heard. And someone, maybe you, is purposed for that specific task.
I'd love to know if this post changes anything about your day. And of course, I hope you will tap the share tab if you think it might help a friend. Thanks for reading.

This Woman - Rita Klundt She lives in the filth and pain of her past when God has invited her into His own home. Who is this woman? What is it about a prison with…

Representing King's Teens. Sandy (Kelly), Steve Scott, & Rita (Lisanby). PCHS 50 year class of '73 reunion. We missed the rest of you! Are you interested in another Kings teens reunion?

Not Just Anybody's Blanky. - Rita Klundt This is a personal letter to one of my granddaughters, but feel free to eavesdrop. Dear Kyla, It’s only a baby blanket to anyone in the world, but me. Simple…

Decisions. Decisions. Decisions. Clear the clutter from my dining room table and finish dusting? OR . . . edit the chapter I wrote on Wednesday? OR . . . take the book that just arrived to the porch and sit a while?

You don't know me well if you have to speculate. BTW - read #72, Pigs Do What Pigs Do, and see why I selected that story to be published (later this year) in Real Life Real Ladies: Mountains, Molehills and the Good Stuff Between.

Congratulations Diana! FaaaaaNTASTIC !!!

Go to https://amzn.to.3qgKplu to find out what all the excitement is all about.

Wisdom for your walk. Encouragement for your soul. A hug for your heart. Get to know my friend Diana through her stories in Right Here...Right Now...Meanderings. It's available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3qgKplU

For those of you who fell in love with Diana's writing after reading her contribution to Real Life Real Ladies: Short Stories from the Pew, this is a must read.

Right Here... Right Now...: Meanderings I would like to think that my life moves merrily along in a straight line. But the truth is that there is a sudden twist... a bend in the path... something catches my eye.... and suddenly I am meandering along the life trail. The truth is that this life trail meanders through a broken world. How ...

Just about the time I think I've had enough of crying Jeremiah and wish our Sunday morning Bible study group was back in the book of John, I run across another great verse of encouragement and inspiration.
Are you one of those people who found their "life verse" early in life? Or are you like me, and still searching? Jeremiah 33:3 is definately a contender.

A sneak peek at the cover of a book to be released in late October. One of my short stories is included. You'll be hearing more about it as October 24th comes around.

VBS 2023 at Liberty Baptist is over. The decorations are down. There may be remnants of tape on random walls, and the cleanup will take a while, but is it really over?

Forgiveness of sins is only the beginning. (See Acts 10:43.) God proved his faithfulness again this week, but his goodness is forever. Let's tell everyone!

I started this week wondering. What if I've prepared these lessons, games and crafts and handouts and not one parent shows up?

Seriously, how pathetic that and my other doubts were! It's been exciting to see moms and grandmas bring their kids and more exciting that they choose to come back. We've had new faces each night. Pastor Gary has been taking us through the history of the love of Jesus and drawing us into the the life of a most unlikely disciple named Peter. Last night's lesson was from Acts 3 and how Peter spoke boldy about Jesus.

Pastor Gary's topic this evening will be about how "Jesus is for Everyone," and I would hate for you to miss it. The topic I chose for parents is "Lions, Tigers and Bears."

They start serving supper at 5:30. VBS starts at 6.

Our first parent VBS/seminar was a success. Tonight's focus Bible verse is Isaiah 41:10. Pastor Gary will be telling the story of when Jesus called Peter to walk on water. I am reminded that tonight could be the very first time some would hear this exciting Bible story!

Parent seminar topic: "Who Can You Trust?" We'll be going beyond the "Stranger Danger" content we we taught in school. Don't miss it!

I forgot to check the kid-friendly supper menu, but they start serving at 5:30.

This TEMPORARY cover doesn't come close to matching the story, but why not introduce you to a couple of my characters? Read this brief excerpt, and tell me what you would expect from a book cover. Do you judge a book by its cover?.

Book cover pending . . . - Rita Klundt I’d like for you to meet the characters I’ve been living with (in my head) for a few years now. The manuscript, The Doll House Secrets, is close to being…

The season of finishing is here. If you don't finish it now, then when? Check out this article titled "Celebration at the Finish Line." Written by Yours Truely.

Celebration at the Finish Line “I’m finished!” Imagine sending a message that you‘ve crossed the finish line of a marathon race. Imagine the photo you post to invite family and friends into your celebration. Or perhaps it’s cele…

More of what Roger and I saw in Deadwood, TX:
It was greener there than I imagined. All in all, I can see how my character, Sissy, could have had "the time of her life" in Deadwood, especially learning to play with nothing but a bunch of kids and enough dirt and hiding places for the gang of the them.

I can also imagine Cora Lee (Sissy's mother) and her handsome boyfriend driving away from Deadwood, having fueled a borrowed Ford at this gas station a few miles from town.

One thing is for certain. A week is more than enough time to wonder if your mom is coming back and if you will ever make it out of Deadwood.

Our oldest grandson was married in Longview, TX on Friday, and Longview isn't far from the place where a character in the novel I've been writing once visited. Deadwood, Texas in the early 1940's. Roger agreed to take me there for a little research/inspiration.

We found the place which is only a speck, a teeny dot, on the page of our atlas that is East Texas. We thought we had missed our turn because all we saw were lazy cows, some chickens,, and of course, lots of dead wood. Then the nice GPS lady said, "You have arrived at your destination."

No general store. No post office. Not even a Dollar General. I rolled down my window, zoomed my phone camera x3, and clicked.

I'm thinking this could be the very spot where my character, Sissy, had to relieve her bladder in the middle of a hot summer night way back in the early 1940s. I haven't done the research on the evolution of outhouses, but I think this one has been upgraded. The few outhouses I recall from the 60s were made of wood. Now that I think about it, is this an actual outhouse? Oh well. Summer in retirement is for going places with no plan other than to get there when you arrive, and to stay until you are good and ready to go home.

We drove the country roads in the area, looking for a church or a cafe. It would have been nice to meet a few Deadwood residents, but all 30 of them must eat and go to church at home or in a neighboring town.

I need to write a chapter where Sissy goes to the beach and insist that Roger take me there . . . for research and inspiration of course.

Came outside early this morning to gaze on the water and enjoy the distant song of birds. Then this guy waddled up to the porch and asked for a bite of my bagel. I ate the last crumb with attitude . . . Selfish of me, but I came out here to be alone. This bird can neither sing nor dance. He can't soar like the graceful birds of prey. Neither can he sooth my spirit by fluttering from limb to limb through the tall pine trees. His voice is a strange instrument that I suppose only his mother would love. He is a wild thing, with home and family, yet a wanderer. He is nothing special . . .until dinnertime when he gets naked of his feathers and becomes the center of attention. The main dish. When this guy's life has served its purpose, folks leave full and satisfied, knowing that God is good.

If the person I was thinking of when I created this title and book cover doesn't write this book, I think I will.

Are you the would be author? Or is it someone you know?

Trying on logos in Canva today. It's way more fun than shopping for clothes. What do you think? Does this one make me look thinner?

Spring is a time of year filled with plenty opportunity for Christian women to conference, retreat, seminar ... and all those other events we do to wake us from the winter blues and give us a boost. What did last years season of events do for you?

This post is a bit of a promo for PRIORITY 2023 that happens on April 28-29, which I highly recommend. It's also a call to do something simple and easy. Don't we all love simple and easy!

Rita Klundt Author - Speaker - Story Collector

Hey writer friends from Central Illinos! It's about time you take your writing one step further . . . or is it farther? Word Weavers helps me to catch those pesky mistakes, to develop a better story and to find more readers.

If you aren't sure if you are a one book wander (or is that wonder) or a writer forever, don't ask us. Join us. Discovery is what keeps life interesting. Hope to see you Saturday!

Diddly and Squat. - Rita Klundt No strength of my own to stand strong or fight, and my voice doesn’t carry much punch. Please, Word of God, speak while I hold still and pray. My heart…

5 days left in January. 360 completly new days left in 2023!

I wish I could remember which of my friends owes me money. It's been so many years that by now they owe me interest. If that person is you, there's a quick and simple way we can call it even:

The amount in question would be about the price of this recently released book - just so you know.

I'm especially interested because the story is set in HARRISBURG, IL.

Hey, all my Southern, IL friends! I'm sure it's none of you who owes me, but check out the cover of this book - front and back, then order a copy for yourselves. I don't recommend books I haven't read yet, but this one should arrive on my doorstep soon, and I'm sure it will be an exceptional read.

https://www.amazon.com/Window-Opportunity-Stained-glass-Legacy-Book-ebook/dp/B0BNSRJYPC

Week-long crash course on use of a Cricut machine. I crashed . . . daily. I figured out a new application daily, and graduated from frustrated to the beginner level. My 1st project is bagged and ready to either deliver or ship.

In case you didn't see my previous post, I chose to etch and personalize mugs for the women who wrote stories for the 2021 Real Life Real Ladies book. I've been wanting to give them a tangible "Thank you," and of course, encourage more story writing.

After a week-long break from housework and writing, it's time to get back into my routine! But I'll be daydreaming of ways to use Cricut to create promotional materials for my writing and speaking , and (maybe) some lightweight and very portable things to sell. Must be related to telling personal stories. Any ideas?

I only wish I could see the beauty of fresh fallen snow without thinking of all the work that comes after. The least I will do if the weatherman got it right over the next few days is to open the door and take a deep breath. Fresh snow - it has a wonderful smell.
Some of my southern friends have no clue as to what they are missing.
But that's enough of that. Click on the photo and check out my poem for the Christmas season 2022.
Merry Christmas.

Peace and Good Will - Rita Klundt “Peace on earth. Good will,” they say. The Hallmark movies end that way. But as for me, and at my house, The creatures stir and we might have a mouse.…

This is a short one. It's not Christmasy. Nor does it tell a story. Still, I hope it gives you reason to rest and dream well. And I hope you wake with an urge to dance.

To Dream. To Dance. - Rita Klundt I used to dream of monsters in the dark, under my bed. I used to dance in fairytales with heroes in my head. Dad said “No” to dreaming of some…

I'm awake at 4am. Been awake since 3:15. What's so bad about that is the next couple of days entail driving to Wood River, IL to lead teenagers in a retreat this weekend. This old lady needs her rest, and it's not for the purpose of beauty these days.

The director said I'd only have a "handful" of kids, and much of their time will be meals and with their parents in large group. That leaves only about 8 hours to lead the kids in Bible study, bonding activities and fun and games. What makes me think I can handle this? Nothing actually. I must be crazy. Certifiably crazy!

So, I need to arrive at Wood River by 4 pm, and it occurs to me to do a Jonah. I'm thinking that St. Louis is just over the bridge with some of the best shopping in the Midwest. What's to stop me from driving by the church and waving?

Wait! Did he say "a handful of kids" or that these "kids are a handful?"

As long as I am awake. I decided to brush up on Saturday morning's Bible lesson. Deuteronomy 31:1-8. "Do not fear or tremble . . . Be strong and courageous . . . The Lord is indeed going before you--he will be with you; he will not abandon you."

Looks like I won't be doing any shopping this weekend. I'd rather be in Ninevah (I mean with a gang of phone-weilding teenagers) than in the belly of a shopping mall.

Check out the application comments on the page opposite the eight verses I'll be studying with the kids tomorrow. I highlighted them and took a photo for you.

Prayers appreciated!

I'm trying to make travel days productive and calling them marketing days. Wondering if other writers do the same. Short of saying, "I'm an author. Please buy my book," how do you promote your writing while traveling?

I've not received any messages from readers encouraging me to continue this practice, but it occurs to me that the women who might be most receptive to our stories and messaging won't likely attend our conference or women's retreats.

Tip: When you leave one of your books behind in a hotel room, the housekeeper is required to turn it in as lost and found. It will be (according to policy) marked with a date and stored for one year before being tossed into the trash. That beautiful cover . . . Oh no! BUT, if you leave a note for the housekeeper, and sign your book, the hotel manager will let the housekeeper take your book, and she'll be able to start reading that very evening. Hook her into your story by using some "green" to bookmark your favorite paragraph.

BTW . . . I do a quick look before checking out, making sure not to leave anything behind that will make her job harder. Generosity goes deeper than cash.

Remember the story about the banquet where all the invited guests (like the ones with the cash and opportunity to buy your book) started canceling and making excuses not to come? What did Jesus do? You guessed it. He went out onto the highways and byways to give away His message of salvation and hope. Yes. The Author of Life spent thirty-three years giving his message away, not holding back for his next event. And let me tell you, for his next event, he had planned something humongous and fantabulous. World-changing!

I double-dare you to search and find me a scripture telling me this isn't a good idea. Or, maybe you would let me in on another idea for marketing the name of Jesus whenever, and wherever, I am fortunate enough to travel?