Thanks Be
“True thankfulness comes from deep within ...”
As most of us pause this week for Thanksgiving, we will reflect on the blessings we have in our lives and give of ourselves to those we love. We are continually thankful for you and grateful for the chance to share a little of our time with you.
If you follow us on social media, you will know that we have just recently finished our new studio space. This new space gives us so much more room for printing and meeting room with authors and artists. This weekend is the first of two open house weekends for us during the Made in Mathews Open Studio Tour. We look forward to welcoming guests to our studio and hope you can come spend some time with us. Our open house is Friday, November 28 and Saturday, November 29, 10am-5pm, and Sunday, November 30, noon-5pm. The following weekend is Saturday, December 6, 10am-5pm and Sunday, December 7, noon-5pm.
Back in July we did a short introduction to one of our new authors, Blanche Edwards. Ms. Edwards is currently in the editing process of her debut historical fiction novel, Where the Wild Violets Grow. This novel is set in the last half of the 19th century and takes place in the Northern Neck area of Virginia. Ms. Edwards has spun a fictional creative story of what life may have been like for her great-grandmother during those ever-changing and turbulent times of rural America.
Blanche Edwards’s debut novel, Where the Wild Violets Grow, will be released in 2026.
We’ve discussed before the importance of having your manuscript edited, and we are currently in the developmental editing phase of Ms. Edwards’ manuscript. Developmental editing is an in-depth review of a manuscript by an editor. Once the editor has completed this in-depth review, the author begins the process of rewriting parts of the manuscript, if needed. Read more about developmental editing on our blog here. Not all manuscripts will require this in-depth edit, but authors must be aware that it may be necessary.
We would like to leave you with a Thanksgiving poem we wrote a few years ago. We hope you enjoy it. If you have a poem, short story, or other writing you would like to share with our readers please send it to us. Happy Thanksgiving!
Across the deep divide came men of faith,
Upon wood, cloth and God they put their trust,
Endless days and starry nights spent adrift,
Desperately seeking terra freedom to end the quest.
Oh how quick enchanted shores become frigid nights,
Strangers in a distant land aching inwardly in their plight,
Hanging hope with determined faith to what will be,
Able to give thanks for the strength of our Lord.
From faithful few our nation was born,
Men of freedom, men of might,
Men of courage, men of sight,
A land of freedom and hope to all.
Thanks be to those who have come before,
Thanks be to our nation of strength and will,
Thanks be to fathers, sons, mothers and daughters,
Thanks be to our Lord in Heaven who lent his hand.
Now continues the journey of hope and faith,
Striving to carry on our founding legacy,
Grasping onto the freedom given to us,
Freedom granted us by our Lord on high.
We dutifully offer thanks for the essentials,
Homes, jobs, clothing, food, transportation,
Often taken for granted by us daily,
But longed for by many others we never see.
True thankfulness comes from deep within,
Family, friends, freedom from this world,
True freedom and a heart of thanks,
Comes only from rejoicing in our Lord and Savior.
Thanks be to God for our loving family and friends,
Thanks be to God for joy deep within,
Thanks be for our true freedom over this world,
Thanks be to our lord in Heaven who lends His hand.
True life mermaids (or mermen) believe in themselves, they embrace their creativity and live life to the fullest.
