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mindset

Abundance General Grace & Grit The Journey

The Pursuit of Happiness: You Have a Choice

LiaSeptember 26, 2024809

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Recent Posts

  • Co-Creating with the Divine

    • April 29, 2026

  • Resistance is the Medicine. Flow is the Cure.

    • January 30, 2026

  • Look At Me Go

    • July 8, 2025

  • The Pursuit of Happiness: You Have a Choice

    • September 26, 2024

  • 80% of Women Will Develop a Uterine Fibroid(s) by Age 50

    • July 22, 2024
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liakcook

📖 Fiction Writer
❤️ Grace & Grit Blog
Wife | Mom ❤️❤️❤️🐾| 🚜 Farmhouse life
One awesome perk of being a writer with writer fri One awesome perk of being a writer with writer friends is that occasionally I get to read advance copies of other writer’s books. @rhodge.fiction is a master of twists and turns and edge-of-your-seat suspense. I read an advance copy of her book ISLAND ENDGAME and loved it, so I was thrilled when Rebecca approached me about reading an advance copy of FAILURE POINT. Like ISLAND ENDGAME, FAILURE POINT is a nail-biting suspense. A security agent teams up with a distraught mother to rescue her kidnapped daughter. The stakes are high with the child’s life on the line, the secrets and numerous motives that surround the case, and the security agent’s past fatal mistake that left her with orders to watch not meddle. FAILURE POINT will keep you on the edge of your seat rooting for Jordan, Shelby, and Shelby’s daughter to make it out alive. You won’t believe how it ends! Happy Publication Day, @rhodge.fiction! #publicationday #happybookbirthday #rhodgefiction
I had such an amazing night gathering with other b I had such an amazing night gathering with other book lovers to celebrate @kristywharvey book launch for Falling For Peachtree Bluff. It was at the cutest venue, too, @thecoachhousenc which just happens to be ten minutes down the road from my house. The event was put on by @mtpleasantfol . They create beautiful literary events. I found them through their #mplitfest which I highly recommend and plan on going back to next year. #books #authorofinstagram #literaryevents
YOU are the compass. YOU know what your body nee YOU are the compass. YOU know what your body needs. What if you tuned into that knot under your right shoulder blade, or the tension and tightness in your lower back? Would you take a few minutes to stretch? What if you actually had that conversation you keep rehearsing over and over in your mind? How proud of yourself AND lighter would your body and mind feel after you finally had it? And maybe, just maybe, you’d feel inspired to have the next conversation too. What if you blocked off time for you, AND no matter what emergency popped up, you gave yourself that time? Would your body and mind reward you with joy and peace after? Our bodies, our minds, our emotions are the compass to our needs. What is your body, mind, emotions telling you that you need today? Are you listening? #selfaware #selfcare #selflove❤️ #graceandgritblog
Life is happening FOR you. This statement has been Life is happening FOR you. This statement has been showing up quite frequently in recent weeks. I’ve heard it on podcasts and read it in books. It’s always discussed against the opposite statement: life is happening TO you. One implies how hard life is. That I’m a victim with no choice or very limited choices in life. The other offers the view that I have the opportunity to be the victor in life. That I can take full accountability for my life experiences and use them for my growth. Life IS happening for me. I met Corey Beth (CB) a couple of years ago. I immediately connected with her gentle spirit and kind heart. She truly is a light in the world. She released her book Sacred Shift: An Honest Guide For Your Spiritual Evolution earlier this year. In her book she talks about how influential Reiki has been along her spiritual journey. I was excited to learn she was offering a Reiki class, as I too have been on a spiritual journey the last few years. The easiest way for me to explain Reiki is to compare it to what I know and that would be the unexplainable, untouchable presence of the divine within us and around us. This experience with the divine, the universe, something greater was what I was searching for when I chose flow as my word for 2025, and then again in 2026. I wanted flow in my life because my life was chaos. So many things and diagnoses were happening that were out of my control. Life definitely felt like it was happening TO me. All throughout our class CB kept referencing that Reiki is surrendering to the flow and involves trusting the process. I knew I was definitely supposed to be in that class. I was even starting to believe maybe I had been divinely led to that class. My classmates shared ways they have felt guided from synchronicities and divine winks. They believed deceased loved ones have visited them through butterflies, hummingbirds, and even a random flower vine that suddenly popped up in their yard. They shared dreams, and visions within meditations, and all the ways they feel the unexplainable shows up to guide, to lead, to heal, and to transform. What if life really is happening For us? #reiki #divineguidance
Sleep is not a priority while reading this memoir. Sleep is not a priority while reading this memoir. Nor is anything else really. (Ignore Creed in the background asleep on the couch. Sleep and treats are always his #1 priority.) Adrienne was only fourteen when her mother woke her up to tell her that her stepdad’s best friend Ben just kissed her. Thus begins Adrienne’s complicated relationship with protecting her mother and Ben’s trysts. The affair lasts for years and deeply impacts Adrienne. I could not put this book down. I was concerned for Adrienne and if she would ever escape her mother’s grip on her life. #thisbook #reading #unputdownable
Do I need an MFA to finally finish my book? That i Do I need an MFA to finally finish my book? That is the question I have been circling lately. It all started when I learned an author, whose work I admire, taught in a nonresidency, low cost MFA program. My mind spun tales that her 👀 on my work would provide THE answer(s) I needed to finally finish my manuscript and begin querying agents. I have both my Bachelor’s and Master’s in Special Education, but still I wondered if I needed to earn another title to be able to competently finish my book. Circling the MFA question has helped me return to the specifics of my goals for writing and publishing, and helped me to realize how much power this belief in THE answer — an answer that was somewhere outside of me—held. I just had to find the specific curriculum, course, professor, formula, system, method that would provide certainty that an agent would want to represent me and my work, that a traditional publisher would not only pick up my book but be able to sell it to a group of readers with specific and individualized taste. I’ve been to many author talks. I’ve attended numerous writing conferences and classes where I heard published writers share on craft and/or process, and one thing is true: there is no one way to finish a book. Yes, many authors shared how a fellow writer held them accountable, or how an editor helped them hone their vision, but the actual book was finished because they sat down and wrote it. For now, I’m choosing not to pursue an MFA and instead to find the answers within myself by taking classes (like @cece_lyra_agent’s most recent course) where I continue to develop my palette by studying story structure and line level writing and how an author hooked a reader. I’m finding answers by continuing to work with writing communities and other writers and book coaches who encourage me to keep going. AND, I’m discovering answers by continuing to write. #writer #writing #learningwithcece
I saw a post yesterday that mentioned SpaceX would I saw a post yesterday that mentioned SpaceX would launch on July 9th at 5:05 AM so I got up early to watch since I’m at the beach this week. The beach is deserted and the night sky is beautiful at 4:45 AM. As 5:00 got closer, I decided to pull up the SpaceX website on my phone and check the countdown timer. The launch had been pushed back to 5:25 AM. As I waited, a few beachcombers came out with their headlamps on, and further down the beach I spotted a fisherman with the green lighted tips on his fishing poles. It was peaceful. I played with my phone, adjusting night mode and trying to capture the moon, still continually checking the website countdown timer. At 5:25 the timer started adding minutes to the countdown. Had they pushed it back again? That is what I thought. I watched the numbers climb to two minutes then three. Dawn was breaking. I wondered if I would be able to see it? How long should I wait? Only three minutes and my mind was asking all the things. Then five minutes later there it was making its way across the morning sky. It left a lighted arched trail for a few moments after it crossed. When we make time, slow down, look up and around it’s amazing what we find. ❤️ #spacex #oakislandnc #spacexfalcon9 #presence #lookup
Your mental health matters because YOU matter. Y Your mental health matters because YOU matter. You deserve to experience the fullest expression of this life, however that looks for you. Whether it be bubble baths, pedicures, manicures, and massages. Or taking a walk, calling a friend, deep centering breathwork, meditation, AND therapy. Give yourself the gift of choice - of learning to listen to your deep inner knowing AND following where it leads. Your quality of life matters. It’s time we stop self-abandoning and instead tune in and honor what we feel, what we want, and what we need. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It was created in the 1940’s to reduce stigma and raise awareness. When we live from a self-loving place we create a broader safer space for others to honor their needs. #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #youmatter #selflove❤️ #mentalhealth
She did it! I still can’t believe our bubble blowi She did it! I still can’t believe our bubble blowing, tea-party-loving little girl is getting ready to walk across the big stage and out into the world. I’m so proud of my girl! She worked hard for this moment. I can’t wait to see where she shines her light next. Huge shoutout to @victoriaanne_photography_ for these amazing pictures. #ecu #eastcarolinauniversity #piratenation #shedidit
THE MAD WIFE by @mchurchwriter is my favorite read THE MAD WIFE by @mchurchwriter is my favorite read so far this year. This book is a riveting and unputdownable dive into the reality of the 1950’s housewife. I love fiction grounded in history. THE MAD WIFE pulls back the curtain on the so-called housewife syndrome – hysteria diagnosis that left many women lobotomized into happiness and emotional tranquility. I couldn’t help but root for Lulu to shake up the patriarchy as she and her neighborhood friends navigated keeping up appearances, a clean house, raising children, shopping for and preparing healthy and delicious meals, and, of course, keeping a husband happy. This deeply layered novel had me up late, gritting my teeth at society, crying with and for Lulu, and finishing this book in two late night readings. 10/10!!! Meagan’s backlist is now part of my TBR, especially THE GIRLS WE SENT AWAY, which I almost shied away from because of the back cover copy phrase “to hide their daughter’s secret shame” that parallels my own teen pregnancy. But after reading THE MAD WIFE and experiencing firsthand how Meagan immerses readers in a character’s life and experiences, especially a woman’s experience, I decided I was up for another woman’s journey into claiming her power.
One of the many perks of attending Marissa’s book One of the many perks of attending Marissa’s book event was the location in Beaufort, South Carolina. Beaufort is part of what’s known as The Lowcountry, which holds the charm of beautiful trees with hanging moss 😍, salt marshes, and a rich history. Hunting Island State Park is close by, so yesterday morning I took a quick trip. For just $8 I was treated to more beautiful trees, wildlife, the Hunting Island Lighthouse, a walk on the beach, and Hunting Island’s Boneyard Beach. #beaufort #huntingislandstatepark #writerofig #beautifuldestinations
Author events are always inspiring, and especially Author events are always inspiring, and especially when I personally know the author and the conversation is as good as it was tonight. I met @marissawritesbooks in Chicago in 2023 at the @womensfictionwriters conference. I loved her personality and her laugh. She kept me in stitches. Marissa goes above and beyond as a literary citizen in our community cheering and championing other authors and their books. It was my honor to celebrate her book release tonight at the @patconroyliterarycenter in Beaufort, South Carolina. Marissa was in conversation with @kristennessauthor . Kristen is another author I met at The Savannah Book Festival many moons ago. Marissa & Kristen signed books at Pat Conroy’s desk once the event was over. Make sure you add Marissa’s WHEN GOODBYE BEGINS, and Kristen’s AT LOGGERHEADS to your TBR. #whengoodbyesbegin #atloggerheads #writersofinstagram #writer
I attended the Mount Pleasant Literary Festival th I attended the Mount Pleasant Literary Festival this past weekend. I was blown away by the author lineup and that the event was free. Author events always inspire me to keep writing, and hearing these authors stories was no different. I heard of the grit and dedication to the research and the writing process. I heard the love of story that keeps writers and their communities showing up for that highly sought after immersive story and those characters that stick with you long after you close the book. I absolutely loved all the questions readers had for the authors about their characters and their writing process. I can’t wait to one day discuss the characters that live inside my head and the journey I’ve been on to bring my characters to life on the page. The event was held at the Cabarrus County Library and Active Living Center, which is the Mt. Pleasant Library branch in Mt.Pleasant, NC. This new facility offers many services and activities within the facility and outside with walking trails and playgrounds. I highly recommend visiting the @mtpleasantfol and getting on #mplitfest socials and email list to hear about their next event. #litfest #books #meaganchurch #katequinn
Who do you want to be? James Clear says one of th Who do you want to be? James Clear says one of the most important aspects of behavior change is identity. I’m really focusing on my desired identity this year. My identity as a writer, as being healthy and making health-conscious decisions, and of being mindful and present through the continuous work of self-awareness. Clear says a lack of self-awareness is poison. That reflection and review are the antidote. Shifting into a new identity requires looking at beliefs and habits and all the ways I’m taking action toward my desired identity — and all the ways I’m procrastinating, and resisting the discomfort of change. Consistent action is the key! Consistent action can transform my life. I am finding Clear’s methods/tools/strategies of tiny accumulating habits, routines, and structuring my environment for success are helping me spend more intentional time on living into and becoming my desired identity. My latest habits: ✍️ Writing consistently everyday. It’s not easy sitting with disorganized thoughts, but this consistent practice is helping me figure out story issues, plot holes, and deeper character motivations. 🚨I’m starting every day with red light therapy. I find it relaxing and energizing. 📚I love starting my day with a devotional (or two or three) and my journal. I’m making this a consistent practice because it helps me dive deeper into my mindset and helps me show up to my life with more peace and clarity. This is truly a spiritual practice for me. Who are you working on becoming this year? What habits are you trying to establish in pursuit of that identity? #wellness #mindset #habits #writer
Do you know something? #shitisabouttogetreal #dee Do you know something? #shitisabouttogetreal #deepdive2026 #the_shit_about_writing
Present with peace … I love to get up before the Present with peace … I love to get up before the sun and dive into my devotionals in the quiet stillness of the early morning. It’s an intention I’m really focusing on making a practice this year. I have about 10-15 devotionals. I don’t read all of them everyday, but EVERY day I do feel like the divine is speaking to me through them. This morning, that small still voice came through @everydayspirit1 EVERY DAY SPIRIT: A DAYBOOK OF WISDOM, JOY AND PEACE. Today’s devotional was about being present with peace, not regrets of the past or worries of the future but the peace that lives in this very moment. It made me think of the monks the other day. How we were all waiting and waiting, and watching the live app wondering why it was taking so long for them to arrive from what the app was showing. At one point one couple went running to their car. They heard the monks turned off on another street. Another lady received a call from someone further up the road telling her the monks stopped for a bathroom break. Still another heard the monks were stopping and praying with people. Then the police cars came over the hill where we were standing. They stopped at the crest of the hill. We all knew the monks were close. Peace settled over the crowd. The monks walked by in silence. It was over just like that. We waited almost two hours. The monks passed by—full of peace, full of presence—in less than a few minutes. Present with peace. That is my intention for more than just a few minutes today. #presence #peace #graceandgritblog #mindset
What an honor and blessing to witness these smiles What an honor and blessing to witness these smiles, this mission, these hearts. May we all shine our light just as brightly. #walkforpeace #peace #love #bethelight✨
New year. New standards. I’m setting a new stand New year. New standards. I’m setting a new standard this year and focusing my time and energy on people, places, and spaces that bring me More Joy ✨ More Peace ✌️ More Presence 👁️👂 Divine Flow ✨ More Awe 💫 Opportunities for Deeper Self-Awareness ❤️ I’m spending less time with guilt and doubt, unless these emotions are pointing me back to my standards. I’m no longer tolerating shame, judgement, and overthinking which spiral me away from the experiences I want. These new standards are a daily practice of noticing when I FEEL aligned and when I’ve returned to old habits that keep me miles away from the life I want to be living. What new standards are you setting this year? #selfawareness #selflove❤️ #graceandgritblog #mindset #mindfulness
That’s a wrap!! What a year 2025 has been. A year That’s a wrap!! What a year 2025 has been. A year full of experiences and memories I will cherish. A year of hardship and trials that tested my faith and tried to wipe out all hope. And still here I am on the threshold of a new year ready to make it the best one yet. Happy New Year, my friend! May this new year bring joy, abundance, expansion, and awe. Let’s never stop striving to create a magical & meaningful life. ♥️ #happynewyear #2025 #thatsawrap #memories #graceandgritblog
This is 53! To celebrate our birthdays, Dwayne pl This is 53! To celebrate our birthdays, Dwayne planned a special birthday trip to Vegas so we could experience The Wizard of Oz at The Sphere. The Sphere is an experience inside & out, with the changing colors and pictures on the outside, and special effects like vibrating seats, wind, and falling apples during the show on the inside. It was definitely a highlight of our trip. We also rented a car and visited The Valley of Fire to see God’s wonders up close and personal. We hiked over six miles (almost died), and said “look at that” and “wow” at least a hundred times. And of course we took in all the sights and entertainment in Vegas. That was an experience! #myguy #memories #vegas #thespherelasvegas #valleyoffirestatepark
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