Linda Weaver Clarke's Page

A friend once asked me,
“What is the greatest gift
You have received?”
I thought a moment and pondered,
“Could my greatest gift be
Tangible or even perceived?”

“Was it under my Christmas tree,
Or could it be my neighbors
Who have been so kind?
No! My greatest gift
Cannot be touched nor felt,”
The answer came to mind.

It is greater than a kind neighbor,
Greater than any gift
Placed under the Christmas tree.
It is greater than the touch of a loved one
Or a kiss beneath the mistletoe
Softly given… Continue

We hope for things not seen but it must accompany faith. They go hand in hand. Hope helps us to bear our afflictions. Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, “Hope sustains us through despair. Hope teaches that there is reason to rejoice even when all seems dark around us.”

I would like to relate a true story of great faith and hope about a twelve-year-old boy and the answer to a mother’s prayer, written by Opal Clarke.

“Please, Don’t Let Him Die”

I first became aware of my twelve year old son’s illness whe… Continue

There are many things that bring a character to life. One is an adequate description of the person and another is emotion. Let’s begin with the description of characters. We need to see the character with our mind’s eye, if possible. For example, Melinda’s description of her father gives you a feel, not only of his physical appearance, but also of his deeper inner self. Read the description of her father and see if you can feel his presence and what he is like deep down inside.

“Her father was… Continue

The secret of happiness is a great mystery to many people, constantly searching for joy in everyday life. Is laughter the secret to true happiness? How about a simple, sincere smile and greeting as you pass a friend? I’ve noticed it’s quite effective. I suspect it’s because friendliness uplifts us, makes us feel warm inside. When someone goes out of his way to greet us, it feels mighty good. Laughter and smiles are contagious. They tend to spread from person to person. If you smile at a baby, he… Continue

The “Roaring Twenties” was a time of great change, when women raised their hemlines and bobbed their hair. It was a time of adventure, courage, and independence.

In the 1920s, the new generation spoke a language that their parents didn’t understand. They had words like: Cat’s pajamas! Ah, horsefeathers! Attaboy! Baloney! You slay me! When referring to a woman, they used doll, tomato, and bearcat. When a person was in love, they were goofy. If a person was a fool, they were a sap. And when a wom… Continue

The importance of family legacy can never be over emphasized. Do your children know their heritage? Who are your ancestors? What were their traditions? What religion were they? What beliefs did they have? Did they fight for a cause and what was it about?

Each of us has a story from our ancestors or even our very own story to tell. If these stories are unwritten, then how are your children going to know of their ancestry, of their parentage, or even family traditions of the past? Are these stori… Continue

Emotion is the secret of holding a reader, the difference between a slow or dynamic recounting of a story. When you feel the emotion inside, so will your readers. By giving descriptions of emotion, it helps the reader feel part of the story as if he were actually there himself. Emotions of a character can help us feel satisfied because we can feel what the character feels.

When emotion and feelings are left out of a story, we can feel let down. Emotion is part of our lives, so why ignore such a… Continue

Dreams can come true, no matter what age you are. Dreams are a part of life and they come straight from the heart. Mack David wrote, “A dream is a wish your heart makes.” In fact, dreams eventually become our goals. If you work hard enough, you can accomplish anything you put your mind to. It’s all a state of mind. If you believe in yourself, then nothing else matters. You have to first decide if it’s worth it and then put your whole heart and soul into it. Sidney Harris wrote, “A winner makes c… Continue

After a book is published, an author’s responsibilities are just beginning. Many people think that an author can now relax after the book has been written and begin their next book, but it’s not so. An author must promote his or her book by doing four things that will enhance the book’s success.

First, create an attractive website. People want to know who the author is and what other books have been written. Make sure that your site can be loaded easily. If it can’t be loaded within 10 seconds,… Continue

The waves splashed gently upon the shore and the full moon shone brightly upon Bear Lake, making the water shimmer. A deep foreboding was in the air and the fawn, sipping from the lake, could sense it. His ears perked up and he stood still while his eyes searched the area. Only the sounds of nature could be heard, crickets sang and an owl hooted, but the deer sensed that he was in danger and quickly darted away. With great speed, he sprinted gracefully, as if in mid air, toward safety.

A few fe… Continue