My newest book is leading up to something special. Everyday there's another twist and turn. Someone's lurking, but who is it and what are his intentions? Guess you'll just have to wait and see. Are you interested? If not, you really should be. This is a plot with something for everyone! Is it a mystery, adventure, or love story? Only I know how it will end....Keep checking back to find out

more....you never know when you might get a "sneak peek."
26 aug 2011, 14:29 , Reageer ,
 

Respect

  • Hans Lutz
One of my good Facebook friends asked me yesterday for a synopsis of Photographs of the Heart. I thought I would share that with all of you. I have included the introduction to the book so that you can judge for yourself if this is a book that might interest you. I hope it will, and if you decide to order a copy from lulu.com please get back to me and leave me a comment, or send me a message. I would enjoy hearing from you whether your comments are good, bad or indifferent. Criticism can be given and taken in several different ways, I believe that its what we do with criticism that really matters. After all, shouldn't we learn from our mistakes. I think we should....Happy Reading, Peggy Lutz McDaniel



Photographs of the Heart is a collection of poems and short stories about my life growing up in the small rural town of Blacksburg, South Carolina and about my family and how each one of them touched my life and the imprint they left on my heart through the memories that we made over the years. I wrote about the changes that took place in my life when I left Blacksburg to move to Europe, specifically, The Netherlands, where I live now, and the journey I have been on for the last eleven years with my husband. I talk about my illness and how it affected my life causing me to become disabled, but, I also share stories about our travels throughout Europe and the places we have been and the memories we made and shared together. It might be a little rough around the edges, but whose life isn't. It's not a sappy love story, but a book meant for everyone. It's funny, sad, inspiring, thought provoking; a lot of things wrapped up in 400 pages and placed between two covers.



Introduction



When a person has drawn their last breath, and life slips away, what happens to their memories? Do they go with them, or drift aimlessly in the great, unknown of the cosmos? Personally, I believe they carry their memories with them, buried deep within the depths of their hearts. Just think of all the stories that could be told from a single person’s memories.



I know professionals trained in medical sciences, such as Neurologists, Physiologists, Sociologist, and all those others professionals with “ologist” after their names would venomously disagree with my thoughts that the heart stores our memories. They would argue that they are stored in the brain, and from medical perspectives, I guess that’s where they are stored. Memories, filed safely away in tiny file cabinets throughout our heads. But I prefer to think otherwise. Maybe I will add the title “Heartologist” after my name, (a word I just made up) so I can pretend to be educated in matters of the heart, or maybe I’m just a romantic.



I like to think of the heart, as perhaps, the first digital camera ever invented. With every memory we have being a photograph stored inside that organ. That beating muscle in our chest that keeps our bodies functioning. If the heart does not share those memories, no one will ever know what stories were held there. The heart can not print out those photographs and write notes on the back of them for others to find years later and be able to know what happened when that memory was snapped. Just like a digital photo, if it is never printed, you can’t turn it over and write a note on the back to explain why that snapshot was taken, on that day, at that precise time to preserve that moment forever.



I have thousand of pictures in books, boxes, scrapbooks, and yes even stored on my computer as digital photos, but if I don’t tell the stories behind my photographs, who will know and understand what was happening in my life on the days those pictures were taken.

As I share some of my memories with you through short stories and poems, I hope you will be inspired. Do not just keep all your memories locked up inside your heart, stuffed away in boxes, or on your digital storage units, but share them with your family and friends. Leave something of yourself behind, so that other generations in your family can see how their ancestors lived, loved and enjoyed life by sharing your memories in stories, a sort of legacy, if you like. The memories captured as photographs in your hearts.
28 aug 2011, 12:16 , Reageer ,
 

2 Hyvers respecteren dit

  • Ineke
Sunset

Golden skies beckon me

Cast your eyes across the sea

Slowly sink below the edge

Just beyond horizon’s ledge

Swirls of red, streaks of gold

Evening wind, blowing cold

Sun is setting in the west

Time of day that I love best

Stroll along the empty strand

Dig my toes into the sand

Day is coming to a close

Ending with a sweet repose

Sunlight fades into the west

Time has come to take my rest.



From: Photographs of the Heart

Author: Peggy Lutz McDaniel
31 aug 2011, 12:26 , Reageer ,
WARNING: THIS IS A REAL WARNING, PLEASE TAKE SERIOUSLY

If you receive an email from someone strange telling you that an amount of money has been charged to your credit card in the order of an invoice....DO NOT RESPOND to the email. We received one this morning and have called our credit card companies and this is known as a phishing email to acquire personal information. We were advised to delete the email from our inbox as quickly as possible. Millions of this type email have been sent worldwide.....please be aware.
31 aug 2011, 13:17 , Reageer ,
Don't worry...two simple words., nine letters, ten characters. Easily said, but sometimes impossible to do, especially when a parent hears those words from a child. We bring them into the world. We raise them. We nurture them We love them. We teach them, and we try our best to protect them. When troubles come in their lives, how are we not supposed to worry about them?
1 sep 2011, 12:51 , Reageer ,
 

2 Hyvers respecteren dit

  • Ineke
  • Mia
Most of you have never heard of PPEAS. Don't feel bad, I did not know what it meant either, until six years ago, suddenly in the middle of the night my body was taken over by seizures that mimic Epilepsy. Read about my fight against this medical condition and how it changed my life and the lives of my family.



Below is one of many poems that you will find along with short stories about my life growing up in the small, rural town of Blacksburg, South Carolina. Read about my family, our lives, happiness, joys, sorrows, tragedy, and love that we shared. Follow my a journey from South Carolina to Europe and discover the changes that took place in my life when this country girl pulled up roots and moved 4000 miles away from her family and friends to the concrete jungle of an

European city.



Order your copy of Photographs of the Heart today from www.lulu.com.



PPEA’S BEAST



Awakened from a restless sleep

Like dark clouds rising from the deep



Beast of all the troubled years

Conceived from stress, pain, grief and fears



Blinded eyes that could not see

Turmoil churning within me



Gnashing teeth and blazing eyes

Slowly the beast begins to rise



Crawling from the darkest pit

Thrashing tail makes its first hit



Striking at the weakest spot

With dragon’s breathe fiery hot



Dark of night, light of day

The beast consumes its feeble prey



Tearing at the heart and soul

Bit by bit, it takes control



Dragging his prey into its den

Lying in wait to strike again



What is this beast inside of me?

God give me strength to set it free



Crawling from the darkened pit

I fight against the deadly hit



Striking at the inner core

I kill the beast, he is no more



At last I see the light of day

Brightened by the sunlight’s ray



What once were stress, pain, grief and fear

Have now become cries of cheer



Tears of joy stream down my face,

Inner strength has found its place.



I fought the beast, with all my might

Held my ground and won the fight.



From: Photographs of the Heart

Author: Peggy Lutz McDaniel
2 sep 2011, 14:13 , Reageer ,
I have 4 copies of my book...Photographs of the Heart. If you are interested in receiving one, send me an email at pj1952types@gmamil.com and I will let you know the cost.
3 sep 2011, 13:51 , Reageer ,
Stupidity is a mechanism that raise it's ugly head when your brain becomes clouded with disorganized thoughts and indecision.
3 sep 2011, 14:46 , Reageer ,
In case anyone is interested......The new book is coming along. Working on the final edits. Please keep checking back to see when it will be released and maybe even find out who "done" it. Yep, going to get called on my use of language there, but that's what we want to know when we read this type of book.....oooo...what does that hint tell you? What could it be a mystery, thriller, love story, or a combination of all three? Could someone be lurking in the shadows? I guess you will just have to wait and see.
6 sep 2011, 11:57 , Reageer ,
 

Respect

  • Hans Lutz
Pain, pain, go away. Leave my body just today....please.....
6 sep 2011, 12:11 , Reageer ,