“How do you know if a guy has a good heart?” This was the question my daughter asked me the February she was seventeen. The boy she liked and her date for the upcoming Valentine’s dance had done “something” (she wouldn’t go into more detail) that was causing her to have second thoughts about Mr. Wonderful. Summoning all the restraint I could muster, I didn’t push her to reveal what the “something” was, as I knew that would send her fleeing in fear of a pending inquisition.

Many thoughts jumped into my brain. Make sure he respects you. (I’d preached that one for years). Does he listen to his mother? (More important to me, no doubt, than to her). But I sensed she didn’t want to hear a rehash of the platitudes and pearls of wisdom I’d tried to instill in her since birth. I didn’t want to screw this up. Her coming to Mom for advice instead of to her teenage peers was more and more a rare event.

She wanted something new, something simple and concrete that she could use as a yardstick in an attempt to measure the true nature of a human heart. Years before, I’d read a quote from Immanuel Kant, a famous 18th century German philosopher and ethics professor. It had stuck in my mind, probably because I love animals so much. My daughter does too. The quote seemed to fit our situation. I considered it a pretty good yardstick. So did my daughter, who eventually found and married a man with a good heart, a man that adores her and shares her love for animals.

“We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.” Immanuel Kant.

Thanks for stopping by,

Deborah

Where does your inspiration come from? Is it the vibrant colors in a treasured
painting or the pulsating beat of your favorite rock band that gets your heart to pumping and makes your hands itch to pick up a paintbrush or guitar and produce your own masterpiece? Maybe you’re like me and find yourself surprised by a plethora of sensory delights that stir your imagination and inspires your creativity.

 I find my greatest inspirations in literature. Amazing novels take me on journeys of imagination that open up new worlds to explore. They can make me
laugh, cry, and empathize with people who start out as fictional characters and evolve into friends by the last page.

Poetry speaks to the soul and entreats me to be best version of myself that I
can be. Nonfiction educates my mind, causes me to ponder new possibilities, and
entreats me to ask, “What if?”

 Histories and inspirational biographies reinforce my deep-seated belief that
we can overcome life’s trials. We can persevere.

 After years of tragedy and triumphs, Becky, the main character in my novel,
Breaking TWIG, concludes that, “We all filter the realities of life through our own personal fears, individual experiences, and the human need to cling to hope despite the circumstances, regardless of the odds. And in doing so, we each determine our own truth.”

Inside the pages of a book is where I find the people, places, words, and
ideas that inspire me to continually seek and reevaluate my own truth.

Have a great Labor Day holiday,
Deborah

The print, “Dig”/Sadie Wendell Mitchell, artist, is courtesy of the Library of Congress.   http://www.loc.gov/pictures

So many of my favorite things are being celebrated in June, I wanted to list a few. 
 
Along with the all important Father’s Day, D-Day,  and the first day of summer, June brings us National Fishing and Camping weeks  for the outdoor enthusiasts. For my fellow animal lovers, June is Adopt-a-Cat  month, as well as Zoo and Aquarium month. And if you’re looking for an excuse to  eat chocolate (and who isn’t) June is the month that officially celebrates chocolate ice cream, chocolate éclair, and chocolate pudding days. 

The Tasmanian Devil, Garfield (the cat, not our 20th President), Donald
Duck, and my daughter’s favorite Sesame Street character, Oscar the Grouch, have
birthdays in June. For all those who adore out-of-this- world experiences, June
brought us the first U.S. Spacewalk (1965), the premier of the movie E.T. (which
I saw on a first date with a fellow that I have now been married to for 30
years), and this Sunday, June 23, there will be a Super-moon, the largest full moon of the year.
 
To celebrate all the celebrations, I am giving away free Kindle downloads of my book, Breaking TWIG, on June 23rd. So treat yourself to a free book, some
chocolate ice cream, and the wonder of a Super-moon. 

Win an Autographed Copy of Breaking TWIG


In honor of my daughter's birthday,
I am giving away an autographed paperback copy of Breaking TWIG.

Starting Nov. 20th -- 30th, 2012
Open to US residents.
Must be 18 to enter.  Good Luck.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Enter on Contest/News page at:
http://www.deborahepperson.com/

I’ve had a busy start to the summer with family and friends coming from Texas to visit us in our beautiful Montana valley. I suspect they were looking for a
little relief from that Texas heat and humidity. It’s nice to get out of the air conditioning sometimes and be able to sleep with the windows open. There’s also  a soft rain falling tonight, so that makes it twice as sweet.

For  those who have requested a printed version of Breaking TWIG, I wanted to let you  know the paperback is being proofed now, and I hope to have it available later  this month. And yes, it will include the reading group discussion guide for book
clubs.

 The Kindle ebook version of Breaking TWIG is free, July 1. The reading group discussion guide is not found in the Kindle  format, but if you’d like a copy of the guide, email me at breakingtwig@yahoo.com or fill out a comment card on this website.  Enjoy your Fourth of July holiday and your summer. 

Happy reading,
 Deborah