The Beauty of Brownies

There is no doubt in my mind that God was having a pretty good day when He invented chocolate. Technically speaking, human beings can live on manna, but in His infinite wisdom, the Creator must have mused, “Man (and woman) cannot live by bread alone, so how about a little chocolate to mix things up?” Okay, perhaps those weren’t His exact words, but I’m sure that was the basic idea. It’s hard to conceive that something as delectable as chocolate could originate from the bitter cacao seed. It’s even more difficult to comprehend that one day somebody looked at that seed and thought it would be a good idea to […]

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An Interview with World Champion Water Skier Kristi Overton-Johnson

Kristi Overton-Johnson is living proof that God doesn’t make any junk.  Despite our weaknesses, He can do something magical with our lives… if we let Him.No matter who you are, you will face adversity in your life. You may feel overwhelmed, but there is always light at the end of the tunnel.  Good things often come from the refining we experience in the fire. Kristi Overton-Johnson is a water skiing legend. Her career has spanned  over three decades, from learning to ski at the age of four, to her more recent success as Champion at the US Masters Women’s Slalom at the age of thirty-two. Kristi is an eight-time US […]

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When Magazine Interview

I had a great interview (if I do say so myself) last night  on When Magazine‘s Blog Talk Radio show. For an hour we talked about life, faith, and my crazy writing career.  It’s easy to listen in – just click on the link below and turn up your speakers! http://www.blogtalkradio.com/whenmagazine/2011/05/19/god-unplugged-interview-with-author-amy-hagberg?sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4dd342c7df3711a2%2C0

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Ask the Author

One of my greatest joys as a writer, editor, and ghostwriter is helping aspiring writers tell their stories.  I get so many questions from people, in fact, that I’m starting a new feature on my social networking and web sites called “Ask the Author.” This is the perfect opportunity for you to ask questions about agents, publishers, editors, proposals, writing for magazines, or the writing life in general. Shoot, I’ll even tackle grammar if I absolutely have to! So what do you want to know about writing?  I promise, if I don’t know the answer, I will find out! ~ Amy ************************************************************************ QUESTION: Know I am not talented enough to […]

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Day 3: 2011 Have More Fun Challenge

No matter how you look at it, some days just aren’t fun.  And nothing you do can possibly change that kind of bad energy. After all, if every day was a mountaintop experience, it would get pretty old after awhile, right? I was so overwrought with rather debilitating family responsibilities that I forgot all about my own challenge.  What most people would consider “fun” … activities that make you laugh, giggle, scream, and feel good … were completely AWOL on Day 3, but I did manage to have a little fun in the shower (oh, that came out wrong) and enjoyed myself in bed (oh, that came out wrong too). […]

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Day 2 – 2011 Have More Fun Challenge

Okay, so I’ll admit it.  This challenge hasn’t started out the way I planned.  I had to work pretty hard to have fun on Day 1, and Day 2 was even tougher.  You see, I’m stuck in the middle of a sandwich… an ooey, gooey, responsibility sandwich, and it has seriously impacted my fun quotient. After taking a hard fall last week, my elderly father was hospitalized for a couple of days with some broken ribs. Being 79 and unsteady on your feet is a tough gig by itself, so the social worker and the doctors thought it would be best for Dad to come home with me for a […]

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Day 1 – 2011 Have More Fun Challenge

Being a grown-up is tough duty.  Millions of Baby Boomers are caught in the middle – trying to find ways to juggle work, marriage, and taking care of both children and elderly parents. Forget about taking care of yourself and fostering a good marriage. Even if you are still a greenhorn and have yet to experience these middle age stress castles, I have no doubt you take your life too seriously at times, as well. I am bound and determined to have a whole lot more fun in 2011 than I did in 2010.  Interestingly, there are scads of other social networkers feeling the same way.  So… I am officially […]

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Pitcher Andy Pettitte’s Favorite Christmas

  Excerpt taken from my book, MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS   Left hander Andy Pettitte made his major league debut in 1995 with the New York Yankees. After a stint with the Houston Astros he is back in New York. He has won five championships with the New York Yankees and is Major League Baseball’s all-time postseason wins leader. He is a three-time American League All-Star and a five-time World Series champion.     My fondest childhood memories are of Christmases with my cousins at my grandmother’s house.  I was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and lived there until we moved to Texas when I was in fourth grade.  Up until […]

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A Sign of the Times – Obama Names Medal of Freedom Recipients

THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary _______________________________________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 30, 2009 President Obama Names Medal of Freedom Recipients 16 Agents of Change to Receive Top Civilian Honor WASHINGTON – President Obama today named 16 recipients of the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom.   America’s highest civilian honor, the Medal of Freedom is awarded to individuals who make an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. This year’s awardees were chosen for their work as agents of change.  Among their many accomplishments in fields ranging from sports and art to science and medicine […]

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