Advice for Today from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr
21
01, 2026
19
01, 2026
Martin Luther King Day of Service
Today, we honor Martin Luther King, the pivotal figure in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. His calm civil disobedience and charismatic leadership inspired men and women, young and old, here and around the world.
Dr. King inspired so many, so much that in 1964, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize – the youngest man to receive the prestigious honor.
In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation designating the third Monday of January as a federal holiday to honor the man and his accomplishments.
When we think about how much violence is prevalent today and increasingly shown in movies, television shows, and video games, I totally agree with Dr. King’s daughter, Bernice.
Through his lectures and dialogues, Dr. King stirred, and still stirs, our conscience. Consider these MLK quotes as you honor him today:
On Leadership
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
On Love
“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”
On Getting Along
“We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”
On Faith
“Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.”
On Service
“Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
And as you think about that last quote, I remind you of the legislation passed in 1994 establishing Martin Luther King Day of Service to encourage citizens to use their federal holiday as an opportunity to give back to their communities.
Even if you don’t have today off, I encourage you to find a way to serve that forwards King’s vision and participate.
Let MLK Day be the start of a year in which we make a positive and peaceful impact in our communities.
14
01, 2026
12
01, 2026
Universal Letter Writing Week
It’s not surprising that letter writing and handwriting are becoming a lost talent in our increasingly high-tech society. Text, instant messages, and email offer ease, convenience, and speed.
But I will always believe nothing beats the thrill of receiving a letter or a handwritten greeting card in the mail.
Others agree. That’s why the second full week of January every year is designated Letter Writing Week.
From ancient Rome, India, Egypt, China, and Greece until today, letters have been used to send information, news, and pleasantries. Materials such as metal, lead, wax-covered wooden tablets, ceramic shards, animal hides, and papyrus have been used for writing. Today, letters are primarily written on paper, either handwritten or typed.
The USPS does accept other writing materials. I once received a note from my daughter, who was in Hawaii, written on a coconut.
The first letter mailed with a stamp was written in the United Kingdom in 1840. The United States released its first stamp in 1847. Delivery in those days took a long time. Pony Express/stagecoach delivery meant that sometimes the letters never arrived. Despite significant advancements in mail systems, the delivery is still not always smooth, but it’s still faster than corresponding in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Social media, texts, and email offer real-time conversations, which have led to the decline in letter writing. How many holiday or birthday posts do we see on our social media threads?
Each year, fewer cards and letters for holidays like birthdays and Christmas arrive in my black mailbox on the street. Valentine, Thanksgiving, and Easter cards are practically nonexistent.
An ephemera collector of vintage postcards, this makes me sad. I love reading the notes on the 1900s cards in my collection. Not much space, but what wonderful stories.
Emails, texts, and SM posts can be read fast and easily deleted, and in our busy world of technology, they often are. Writing letters is unique and tangible. The recipient will open a letter, especially if they recognize the sender.
That’s why I challenge you during National Letter Writing Week to write a letter or send a card to someone. Maybe a note to an old friend with whom you’ve lost touch or a grandmother, aunt, or parent, just to say “hi.”
I bet they’ll be thrilled.
8
01, 2026
Guest Blogger Today for Romance Readers and Writers
Thursday’s are guest blogger days here on the blog. Welcome today’s guest: romance author, Monique DeVere.
She writes heart-pounding romantic suspense and funny, feel-good romances filled with faith, heart, hope, and a dash of sass. Check out her titles here: Amazon Store.
After years of reading craft books, studying published novels, completing writing courses, and learning through trial and error, she realised that romance writing isn’t mysterious in the way it’s sometimes made out to be. There are mechanics at play and understanding them can be empowering. She wrote a craft book to help other writers understand, too. That’s the featured book today.
Why I Wrote This Book
I wrote How to Write Compelling Romance Novels because I wanted to help other writers shorten the learning curve in a way that’s encouraging. Writing romance should be joyful, but a lot of the time it’s more frustrating and lonely than thrilling. It is a labour of love, and truly the book I wish I’d had when I first started writing.
What’s Inside
At its heart, this book is about understanding the mechanics that make romance work, from emotional beats to chemistry, tension, and subtext. My hope is that it helps writers feel less overwhelmed and genuinely excited about the stories they’re trying to tell. If this book helps even one writer feel more confident as they sit down to write, then it has done exactly what I hoped it would do.
I’m a visual learner, which is why I’ve written examples to help writers see the elements put into practice. These are original examples created exclusively for How to Write Compelling Romance Novels. They exist to illustrate concepts clearly so writers can immediately see how to implement the tools.
At its heart, this book is about understanding the mechanics that make romance work, from emotional beats to chemistry, tension, and subtext.
My goal is to help authors write the kind of romance stories readers devour in one sitting—and remember long after they finish.
No matter where you are in your writing journey, this book is designed to meet you there. If you’re just starting out, you’ll find clear, actionable steps that demystify the process. If you’re an experienced author, you’ll gain new tools and insights to elevate your craft.
My hope is that it helps writers feel less overwhelmed and genuinely excited about the stories they’re trying to tell. If this book helps even one writer feel more confident as they sit down to write, then it has done exactly what I hoped it would do.
If you’re ready to take your romance writing to the next level, you can grab your copy today and start building stories full of emotion.
How to Write Compelling Romance Novels is available in eBook, Paperback, & Hardback.
Grab your copy today!
AmazonUS | AmazonUK | Amazon CA | AmazonAU
About Monique
A true romantic, she believes falling in love should come with belly laughs, awkward moments, and that delicious slow-burn sizzle. Originally from Barbados, Monique lives in the UK with her real-life hero, their four grown children, five grandchildren, and an adorable Yorkie. She loves writing stories about strong, smart heroines and the swoon-worthy men who fall for them—whether in rom-com, contemporary, or Christian romantic suspense. When she’s not dreaming up emotionally satisfying love stories, she’s collecting new ideas, enjoying family time, or learning something new. Monique loves to hear from her readers. You can contact her at monique@moniquedevere.com
Connect with her on Social Media Links:
7
01, 2026
5
01, 2026
2025 is Gone, At Last
We face a new year, and most of us will begin with resolutions. Personally, I don’t do well with resolutions. Too easy to let slide.
I do like goals. Goals solidify intangibles into tangibles. To-do lists rule my life.
Lesson objectives were an integral part of my teaching days. Once I quit teaching, transitioning lesson goals to my writing career was a logical, easy progression.
World events in 2025 caused my goals to fluctuate, with some ultimately failing. Challenges in my personal life caused more upheaval. There were days I struggled to focus. I think we all did. The first days of this new year already remind us that we still have a bumpy road ahead.
Remember, no goal plan is required, but it might help navigate the days. Whether you choose to write resolutions or specific, measurable goals or fly uncharted ahead with nothing at all planned, that’s up to you.
I’ll be setting writing goals. I’m determined to hang onto hope.
Hope fuels creativity.
Hope motivates us through the dismal days.
Hope is a choice that requires courage and action.
With hope, we find a well from which to draw grace and kindness for daily living.
The coming days don’t need more pressure. They need our presence. So begin gently and find your well of hope.
1
01, 2026
29
12, 2025
25
12, 2025
Wishing you Merry Christmas in ASL
American Sign Language (ASL) is my second language. No, I’m not deaf. Although the older I get, the more hearing I lose.
I fell in love with sign language through one of my best friends in high school, whose parents were deaf. After that, I took sign language classes and did some interpreting for church services. I always loved signing the music the most. Enjoy these ladies as they wish you a Merry Christmas in sign language.