TheWriteGame

Moving Day!

noreply@blogger.com (cleemckenzie) — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 11:30:00 +0000

Yes. It's official. I'm moving. Please come over and tell me how to do this Wordpress stuff!!!!!

Taking A Break

noreply@blogger.com (cleemckenzie) — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 11:30:00 +0000

I'm taking a break.
See Everyone November 1st on #IWSG Day!

I'd really appreciate it if I could get your vote for Double Negative. It's up for the Readers Choice Awards for YA and Middle Grade Books (page 12/16) and I could use as many votes as possible. The voting ends Dec. 10. Here's the LINK.

Show Us Your Writer Insecurity! Special #IWSG Day!

noreply@blogger.com (cleemckenzie) — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 11:30:00 +0000

JOIN UP

Remember, the question is optional!

Have you ever slipped any of your personal information into your characters, either by accident or on purpose?

The awesome co-hosts are Olga Godim, Chemist Ken,Jennifer Hawes, and Tamara Narayan!

This is a special #IWSG day.

Just take a look at what's happening!!!!!

And I'm here to display my absolutely, biggest
INSECURITIES.

Source

Source & Great Blog Post about Insecurity

Even my card-carrying muse is INSECURE. You can tell by his hair.

Are you proud to be an insecure writer? Then show us today. The IWSG site admins will visit each one and pick the top three.

Why? Because there are cool prizes waiting.

Check out our IWSG swag – pens, mugs, magnets, erasers, etc. Proceeds go to fund the upkeep of the IWSG site.

So stock up now.
http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-merchandise.html

And now that we're on the topic of insecurity and winning, I'd really appreciate it if I could get your vote for Double Negative. It's up for the Readers Choice Awards for YA and Middle Grade Books (page 12/16, click on the > until you reach 12) and I could use as many votes as possible. Here's the LINK and my
total appreciation.

Another bit of news. DRUM ROLL HERE.

Now FREE on Amazon * B&N * Kobo

The amazing Insecure Writer's Group Writing for Profit.

It's chock full of experience that everyone can use.

Get your copy now.

Vacation: I'm not here right now. I'm off on my annual trek someplace--this time France. I'll try to log on and visit, but I'm not sure if I'll have internet on this day. If I can't be here, I'll catch up with what happens when I can or when I return. I look forward to finding out who the winners are in the Contest.

Hashtag Insecurity

noreply@blogger.com (cleemckenzie) — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 11:30:00 +0000

The Insecure Writers Support Group

Please visit the co-hosts for today's posting of the IWSG: Tyrean Martinson, Tara Tyler, Raimey Gallant, and Beverly Stowe McClure!

Optional Question: Have you ever surprised yourself with your writing? For example, by trying a new genre you didn't think you'd be comfortable in?

My short answer: Yes. My long answer: Yes, and I'm now sure I don't want to do that anymore. I have enough insecurity without doubting my own good judgement, going counter to it, and failing. Please!

Here's a bit about insecurity that I liked reading.
According to Melanie Greenberg, Ph.D., practicing psychologist in Mill Valley, California up to 40% of our "happiness quotient" is based on our recent life events.

She writes that "since unhappiness also influences your self-esteem, failure and rejection can deliver a double whammy to your confidence."

I think she's talking to writers, don't you? I mean her message is spot on. And here's more from Dr. Greenberg.

"Persevering despite setbacks can lead to eventual successes—which raise your self-esteem. Before becoming president, Abraham Lincoln lost his job, was defeated for nomination to Congress, and failed at least twice in Senate bids."

Doesn't all of this sound as if you've heard it and HEARD IT? Yes. But maybe that's okay. Maybe repetition is necessary to keep us on track. Ergo, this regular every first Wednesday post!

Another reminder: I'm ready to take a break, so if I can't get around to everyone, my apologies, but I'm packing and fretting and being insecure about SECURITY and my FLOTATION DEVICE that I'll supposedly find under my airplane seat. Then there's my passport and my Global Entry number. . .Well, you can see that it's not only writing that generates insecurity in me.

Did you see that The Insecure Writers' Group has something special coming up for you? Another chance to be a published author is coming. You can submit your Crime/Thriller/Mystery story for publication. The theme is TICK TOCK. Look for DETAILS starting September 6.

Are you jumping into the next contest? What's your happiness quotient these days? See you in November with my "slide show" from France and Texas. You can hardly wait, right?

Happy Labor Day & Break Time for The Write Game

noreply@blogger.com (cleemckenzie) — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 11:30:00 +0000

The End of Summer Holiday
is here! Enjoy your barbecue and your gathering. Thank Mr. Maguire for creating this holiday back in 1882.

Show Us Your Writer Insecurity

October 4, 2017
Post a picture of yourself or avatar with some of the #IWSG Swag or Logo. Members with the most pride will win some prizes.

Third place – EBook of A Change of Mind and Other Stories by Nick Wilford, eBook of The Remnant by William Michael Davidson, eBook of Cling to God by Lynda R. Young, eBook of Already Home by Heather M. Gardner, and eBook of Dragon of the Stars by Alex. J. Cavanaugh.

Second place – The entire eBook collection of the Totem series by Christine Rains, eBooks of Princess of Las Pulgas by C. Lee McKenzie, audio book of CassaSeries by Alex J. Cavanaugh, eBook of Black and White by Nick Wilford, and your choice eBook from J.L. Campbell.

Grand prize winner - IWSG website interview, IWSG newsletter spotlight, IWSG pinned tweet for one week, C. Lee McKenzie's Featured Follower for the month, the IWSG Goodreads book club eBook for October/November, a short chapter critique, and a pair of IWSG erasers.

We have some great IWSG swag – pens, mugs, magnets, erasers, etc. Proceeds go to fund the upkeep of the IWSG site.

So stock up now.
http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-merchandise.html

The crops are in this month and I'm eating vegetables! The taste of those from garden to table is the reward for all that labor that started in March.

I'm going to have to catch all of this excitement on the run. I'm taking a break this month starting 27th and October. A trip back to France has been calling me for several years, so I'm packing and getting ready to take off. I'm no sooner back from France, than I'm off to Texas for a wedding. I've set up my #IWSG posts, and I'll have to catch up with everyone when I return.

Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum

I'll regale y'all with the details--mishaps (there's always those), inspiring moments (I pray for these), and my new boots (gotta buy some in Austin this time).

Quote of the Week: "The most dangerous worldview is the worldview of those who have not viewed the world." Alexander von Humboldt, Naturalist

Meet Bouhaki, and then Let Me Tell You A Story

noreply@blogger.com (cleemckenzie) — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 11:30:00 +0000

Amazon

I had this short piece on my computer, and decided to publish it. The weather (hot), the wine (chilled). the day (long) all contributed to my decision.

Also I was just edged out of first place in the August WEP by this cat person named Hatt (rhymes with cat), so I thought I'd better ramp up my cat game a bit. Congrats to him and to Hilary as well. Applause to you both.

Thanks to Denise and Yolanda for the fun and the great themes.

Some of you know that I once lived in Vientiane, Laos. The stories I have tucked away from that experience fill a file drawer, and I don't expect to ever be able to set all of them down. But here's one that I thought might be fun.

Our kitchen and wash room were separate from the main house. Very sensible because of the heat. Alongside these rooms was an extra sleeping room, and I had a girl who lived there with her family. She worked for me, and over time, we became good friends. She taught me some Lao and I taught her some English. With only a few words, we created some interesting pidgin sentences, so we understood each other. I have lots of stories about when we didn't!

Late one night--her husband gone, my husband gone--a terrible sound came from the washroom. I grabbed the kitchen broom and was outside in a shot. I was sure we were in grave danger. Nong met me, carrying a garden rake. You can see why we got along. We both liked to be armed and ready.

Holding our weapons out, we advanced on the wash room, but it was empty, except for the washing machine and some boxes. We waited, listening, but there was only silence. We no sooner backed out than that same sound froze us to the spot. Imagine a dinosaur trapped inside an 8 by 8 cement room and you've imagined what we heard coming from those dark recesses. Once we'd girded our loins, we advance shoulder to shoulder and banged on the side of the washing machine.

That's when the dinosaur sprang. Two feet long. Very prehistoric. Quite cranky because of all of our whacking. The iguana came at us. Drop weapons. Run for life. Wedge selves in doorway. Scream. Un-wedge and head for the house.

I think the iguana decided he didn't care much for the chase and took off into the jungle where he could get a good night's sleep. It took a week before Nong or I had the courage to go into the washroom, and that happened only after one of our husbands checked behind the washing machine.

Quote of the Week: “Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta, World Traveler

Books. Books. Books. AND Insecurity Pride Day!

noreply@blogger.com (cleemckenzie) — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 11:30:00 +0000

This month I featured Yolanda Renee. She has been a great guest, and I hope the feature helped make her books more visible out in this wildly competitive world of books. Be sure to take a look at all of her work, including Parallels: Felix Was Here, an anthology The Insecure Writers Group made possible.

The Snowman: It takes a true artist to pursue his victims in the art of seduction, and Stowy Jenkins is no exception, especially with blood as his medium.
Buy your copy now and be terrified. A #Freebook on August 23 and 30!

Tara Tyler has a new book out, too!

Deja was a happy, trouble-making troll, until she was exiled from her home under the mountains for her perilous pranks. Now she must serve a frilly human, Princess Calleah who's locked in a tall tower. The Two Princesses from opposite sides of the Valley become unlikely friends in their seclusion, but when the time comes for Calleah to leave the tower, their bond is put to the test by propriety, princes, and parents. Deja doesn't take any gruff and will give it right back to protect Calleah, no matter the cost.

ebook on Amazon

print book via Lulu

This week I was interviewed by Jody Mott. He has a great website that features podcasts with authors. The theme is their favorite children's book. Jody asked some great questions and we got into the RIDDLE in ALICE IN WONDERLAND which has an interesting literary history. I had a chance to talk more about my story in Beware the Little White Rabbit. Here's the link if you'd like to hear. Start 4 minutes in for the actual INTERVIEW, otherwise you have to hear Timothy Lear's poetry.

Join Us!

Are you proud to be an insecure writer?

Then show us!

On Wednesday, October 4 (IWSG Day), post a photo of yourself (or your alter ego) with any of the IWSG swag or with the IWSG logo. Then leave a comment that day at either the IWSG website’s post or the IWSG Facebook post directing us to your photo. (All blog, Facebook, Goodreads, and newsletter members welcome, but photo must be posted on a blog or Facebook to qualify.)

The IWSG site admins will visit each one and pick the top three. Why? Because there are cool prizes involved:

Third place – EBook of A Change of Mind and Other Stories by Nick Wilford, eBook of The Remnant by William Michael Davidson, eBook of Cling to God by Lynda R. Young, eBook of Already Home by Heather M. Gardner, and eBook of Dragon of the Stars by Alex. J. Cavanaugh.

Second place – The entire eBook collection of the Totem series by Christine Rains, eBooks of Princess of Las Pulgas by C. Lee McKenzie, audio book of CassaSeries by Alex J. Cavanaugh, eBook of Black and White by Nick Wilford, and your choice eBook from J.L. Campbell.

Grand prize winner - IWSG website interview, IWSG newsletter spotlight, IWSG pinned tweet for one week, C. Lee McKenzie's Featured Follower for the month, the IWSG Goodreads book club eBook for October/November, a short chapter critique, and a pair of IWSG erasers.

We have some great IWSG swag – pens, mugs, magnets, erasers, etc. Proceeds go to fund the upkeep of the IWSG site.

You have almost two months to prepare – show us your best insecurity!

Quote of the Week: "No two persons ever read the same book." Edmund Wilson

Write, Edit, Publish. REUNIONS!

noreply@blogger.com (cleemckenzie) — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 11:30:00 +0000

I love joining in the WEP. It's a fun and creative hop. I couldn't do it last month, so I was delighted when I could spin a short yarn this month. The theme is Reunions. I hope you enjoy my contribution, and I hope you'll visit the others who have shared their stories today. The link to find others is at the bottom.

Liza’s Quilt

The walls of our cabin danced with shadows from the wood fire, but no matter how much I stoked and encouraged the flames to warm the room, the air remained chilled. When I touched Gran’s gnarled hand, the iciness of it made me weep. She emitted a cold that no fire would warm again, so I lay with her, wrapped in Liza's quilt and listened to the fading sounds of her words.

“Sweet Mara, you are. . .” Even close to my ear, her raspy voice was barely audible. She took short, shallow sips of air, and for a moment I thought she wouldn't say more, but then she did. “You are the only one now who will hear the Voices. Listen to them. I followed their instructions and pieced the quilt as they wanted it done.” She paused again, and I stilled my breath, listening for hers. Her hand grasped mine. Tightly. “But I have no time left to understand the mystery of this quilt, or how they intended it would help us find your sister.”

“I’ll do what you ask, Gran,” I whispered, and I burrowed closer to her as I had since childhood. The autumn leaves of her heartbeat fluttered against my chest. I willed my heart to beat stronger for the both of us, but my will was not enough to return her strength. My magick rose up in me the way I commanded it to, but it wasn’t enough either. During the night, the Voices dropped to murmurs in the darkness. By first light, Gran had been called from our world, and the Voices had fallen silent. I lay there feeling the weight of being the last of our family in the meadow, wondering how I could live without Gran and if I could learn the mystery of Liza’s quilt.

In the days that followed, the emptiness of what was once home to five, gnawed at me, and the yearning to find Liza and bring her back increased with each sunset. She was taken from the meadow when she was ten and I only eleven, five years ago. Astride their horned beasts, the Shriekers had pounded down the warren of twisted mountain trails, their dark hair whipping in the wind. In a thunder of hooves, they trampled our gardens and their piercing cries shattered our world. We’d hidden, but one rider found Liza. He scooped her up and rode off. Once again they’d taken their spoils. Two years before, they’d mortally wounded my mother. My father gave them chase, but never returned. Killed or perhaps lost in the maze leading to their lair.

The Shriekers always descended on the first full moon at the cold season’s end. Every year we hid. Every year we ached for our losses. Now the cold season was at an end again, and that night the moon would rise full-faced. At dawn the Shriekers would come. This time I was alone.

After the sun settled behind the mountain, I opened the quilt and smoothed it across the bed. Gran called her stitchery a crazy quilt. Her embroidery meandered throughout the pieced fabrics and along the edges like a meadow path, looping and inviting my fingers to follow her fine hand work. Liza loved sunflower yellow, and Gran’s nimble figures used to sew garments in those golden hues for my sister. Many of the patch-worked pieces were those remnants of Liza’s childhood dresses long ago washed into threads. These bits trailed throughout the quilt, a bright reminder of her laughter and sweet nature. Liza was born fair and full of joy. I’d come to the world with raven hair and heavy with our family legacy, magick. My magick had saved me that day from the Shriekers, but it hadn’t been enough to save Liza. I so missed my sister, and I needed her. I needed the Voices to return, but I was beginning to think they were Gran’s magick, and not mine. They might never return.

“Speak to me,” I commanded. But the cabin remained silent. With the quilt covering my shoulders, I walked outside to watch the moon glow spread over the meadow.

As I stood looking up, a tingling like butterfly wings started across my back. I ignored it at first, but it was insistent, so I pulled off the quilt and held it before me to find what the cause of that sensation could be. There was nothing, and yet, the palms of my hands now felt that same tingling. I spread the quilt gently on the earth, and I’d no sooner released it from my grasp than the yellow remnants from Liza’s childhood clothing grew bright. When I looked into the distance, a trail of sunflower gold spread from the quilt, away from the cabin and toward the mountain pass. It continued as far as I could see.

I gazed into the distance, the Voices singing inside my heart. “Follow the golden way.”

They’d guided Gran’s nimble fingers to create the way to my sister, and now that I had that path to follow I didn’t hesitate. Even with the full moon, the night held danger, but I felt my magick grow steadily stronger with each step I took, and my fear fell behind, a detached shadow.

At the most tangled crossroads, the first sun rays spiked into the sky. Sensing movement ahead, I stopped, straining to hear. My breath stilled. From beyond the curve I heard the sound of hurried footfalls, and before I crested the rise, Liza came running toward me, her smile more glorious than when she was a child, her arms open and quick to embrace me.

“How––” I gasped.

She didn’t let me finish. “I felt your magick, and the golden light guided me through the Shriekers’ labyrinth. At last I could escape and find you. We clung to each other, my sister and I together again.

And then a thunder of hooves shook the earth.

A quilt as a map has always fascinated me.
Thanks Yolanda and Denise for giving me a chance to explore that idea.

VISIT WEP

Heads Up! WEP Ahead

noreply@blogger.com (cleemckenzie) — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 11:30:00 +0000

The August Write It! Edit It! Publish It! is almost here. On August 16 those who signed up on the Linky will be posting their stories about this month's theme, REUNIONS.

Amazon

Is marketing sucking the joy out of your writing life? Then read what
The Insecure Writers' Support Group Book Club is reading. Our new book selection is based on survey results that showed this area was the biggest challenge for writers.

I'm always reading about other authors' goals and admiring them for setting down what they plan to accomplish. I've been so scattered this year that I've started making categories of lists. One will not do. Here's some of my August GOALS. Take this as the entertainment today.

WRITING:
1. Finish last draft of YA: Not Guilty.
2. Send off last book in Pete Riley trilogy and cross fingers.
3. Write, Edit, Publish Reunions short story.

BUSINESS OF WRITING:
1. Record podcast with Jody Mott re: Alice in Wonderland.
2. Set up Featured Follower for August.
3. Put up new cover for Sliding on the Edge and promote as FREE.
4. Do #IWSG Guest Posts and own posts through Sept.

OTHER LIFE: (What is that?)
1. Set up garden for fall.
2. Pack for France.
3. Buy tickets for Texas.
4. Do all publicity for Library through September.

Quote of the Week

August Featured Follower, Yolanda Renee

noreply@blogger.com (cleemckenzie) — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 14:04:00 +0000

This month welcome Yolanda Renee!

Flames burn between a hardboiled cop and a gifted artist, but soon extinguish as another man’s obsession ignites into an inferno of desire, driving him to destroy the object of his madness.

World damnation is a psychotic man’s goal, but two obstacles stand in his way, greed and a dedicated detective.

A killer plays cat and mouse with a young widow against the snowy backdrop of an Alaskan winter.

She's author of five novels and has stories in several anthologies. Her Detective Quaid Series now has a prequel, which I've read and reviewed.

See what I have to say about Snowman.

Visit her author page all of her work on AMAZON.

Yolanda blogs HERE.

Want one of her books? One lucky person will win a book of his/her choice. Tell us which one in your comment, and you're automatically entered. You get points if you're among my Email Connect or Free Book List friends.
AND
THE SNOWMAN IS A #FREEBOOK TODAY!!!

August 7th

Each month the Write Game features an author or authors. So what does that mean?

I buy read and review your book (Amazon and Goodreads) and mark it as “Am Reading/Read” on Goodreads.
I feature you on my blog, The Write Game, two times.
I post one your covers on my Pinterest under Covers That Catch My Eye.
I feature you/your book on my Email Connect that goes out on the 1st and 15th of each month. If you want to do a giveaway during the month, I mention that on my Free Book List that goes out on the 1st of each month
Facebook is networked with my blog, so my blog posts will appear on my Timeline.
Each Wednesday I tweet about your book three times throughout the day.

If you haven't joined one of my lists, I hope you'll do that and help me spread the word. The longer my lists, the wider my reach. It's fairly painless, and I don't bug people more than twice a month.

Quote of the Week: "If you believe that no one was ever corrupted by a book, you have also to believe that no one was ever improved by a book." Irving Kristol, American Columnist and Journalist.

#IWSG Special October Fun

noreply@blogger.com (cleemckenzie) — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 11:30:00 +0000

Mark it on your calendar! OCTOBER 4 is a special IWSG Wednesday. There are prizes to win. There's fun to be had. So get ready and jump in for some fall excitement.

Not an IWSG Member?
Sign Up Now

The awesome co-hosts today are Christine Rains, Dolarah @ Book Lover, Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor, Yvonne Ventresca, and LG Keltner!

The optional August 2 question: What are your pet peeves when reading/writing/editing?

Are you proud to be an insecure writer?

Then show us!

On Wednesday, October 4 (IWSG Day), post a photo of yourself (or your alter ego) with any of the IWSG swag or with the IWSG logo. Then leave a comment that day at either the IWSG website’s post or the IWSG Facebook post directing us to your photo. (All blog, Facebook, Goodreads, and newsletter members welcome, but photo must be posted on a blog or Facebook to qualify.)

The IWSG site admins will visit each one and pick the top three. Why? Because there are cool prizes involved:

Third place – EBook of A Change of Mind and Other Stories by Nick Wilford, eBook of The Remnant by William Michael Davidson, eBook of Cling to God by Lynda R. Young, eBook of Already Home by Heather M. Gardner, and eBook of Dragon of the Stars by Alex. J. Cavanaugh.

Second place – The entire eBook collection of the Totem series by Christine Rains, eBooks of Princess of Las Pulgas by C. Lee McKenzie, audio book of CassaSeries by Alex J. Cavanaugh, eBook of Black and White by Nick Wilford, and your choice eBook from J.L. Campbell.

Grand prize winner - IWSG website interview, IWSG newsletter spotlight, IWSG pinned tweet for one week, C. Lee McKenzie's Featured Follower for the month, the IWSG Goodreads book club eBook for October/November, a short chapter critique, and a pair of IWSG erasers.

We have some great IWSG swag – pens, mugs, magnets, erasers, etc. Proceeds go to fund the upkeep of the IWSG site.You have two months to prepare – show us your best insecurity!

So are you in? Hope so.

What The Delivery Guys From Macy's Taught Me & Nick's Cover

noreply@blogger.com (cleemckenzie) — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 11:30:00 +0000

Last month we splurged and bought a new couch. And since we want to keep Macy's in business, we went to their brick and mortal store to make our purchase and schedule the delivery. You know, old school. No drone drop off. No UPS truck.

When the delivery guys arrived, they were cheerful and courteous and dressed in crisp, clean shirts and pants. They rolled out a red carpet at our front door and put on shoe covers before coming inside. Once they'd brought in the couch and put the room back in order (lamps, tables, rug), they handed me an evaluation form.

"We hope you've found our service excellent," one said. "If you could give us an excellent rating where you think we deserve it, we'd really appreciate it. Those ratings are so important for us. Thank you for your time."

So how does any of this relate to the business of writing? Well, I'll tell you if you haven't already seen where I'm going.

Professionalism The delivery guys were well-groomed, and they entered my home with care, so that I felt comfortable with them in my private space. I like to approach this business of writing the same way. I want people who visit my blog, my website, my Facebook page. . .all my social media to feel comfortable when they let me into their lives with that click of a mouse. I also want them to enjoy what I write, so I edit the posts as carefully as possible. After all, I'm a writer, I should write good stuff. :-) Just a small joke!

Flare They made the arrival of my couch an event with that red carpet, I wasn't just getting a piece of of furniture; I was getting THE BEST piece of furniture for my home. That's how I want my readers to feel when I present them with my work. I want them to feel that I'm giving them the BEST I have to offer.

Source

Honest, Straightforward Request They handed me the evaluation and asked for my rating. They did so clearly and with a reason behind their request. Then thanked me in advance. Now that's a concept we writers understand, isn't it? "I hope you enjoy reading my book. If so, I'd really appreciate it if you would give me a review. Those reviews are so important for writers."

I'm glad I needed that couch. Buying it and having it delivered made this post possible and reminded me to attend to three important things while I'm in the writing business.

A new book's coming September 18. And here's your peek at the cover.

What is the price paid for the creation of a perfect society?

In Whitopolis, a gleamingly white city of the future where illness has been eradicated, shock waves run through the populace when a bedraggled, dirt-stricken boy materialises in the main street. Led by government propaganda, most citizens shun him as a demon, except for Wellesbury Noon – a high school student the same age as the boy.

Upon befriending the boy, Wellesbury feels a connection that he can’t explain – as well as discovering that his new friend comes from a land that is stricken by disease and only has two weeks to live. Why do he and a girl named Ezmerelda Dontible appear to be the only ones who want to help?

As they dig deeper, everything they know is turned on its head – and a race to save one boy becomes a struggle to redeem humanity.

Amazon / Goodreads

Quote of the Week: "The only thing to do with good advice is to pass it on. It is never of any use to oneself." Oscar Wilde

Hero Lost, Mysteries of Death and Life, Part 4

noreply@blogger.com (cleemckenzie) — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 11:30:00 +0000

Last installment of my Featured Follower of the Month

for

Hero Lost Mysteries of Death and Life

An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology

Website - Lost Hero Anthology

Print ISBN 9781939844361 $14.95

eBook ISBN 9781939844378 $4.99

Goodreads

Print:

Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Books A Million

EBook:

Nook, iTunes, Kobo, Amazon, Amazon UK, and Amazon CA

Each author has submitted a favorite inspirational quote.

Thank you, authors!

Yvonne Ventresca, The Art of Remaining Bitter

“All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. . . .You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”—Ira Glass

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Renee Cheung, Memoirs of a Forgotten Knight

“This is The Great Work, and all you have to do is choose it, not look back and never fucking stop until you're in your box, under the dirt and flowers are growing between your teeth.”—Warren Ellis

(From Writing Advice From Warren Ellis: http://observationdeck.kinja.com/writing-advice-from-warren-ellis-1693980246)

Web | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Sarah Foster, The Last Dragon

“I am irritated by my own writing. I am like a violinist whose ear is true, but whose fingers refuse to reproduce precisely the sound he hears within.”—Gustave Flaubert

Blog | Twitter | Instagram

I've finally changed the cover on Sliding on the Edge. For better or worse, here's the new one. I'm keeping it a #freebook to celebrate finally getting this done.

Scarred. Scared. Alone.

Can sixteen-year-old Shawna Stone overcome her inner suffering and transcend the past?

FREE NOW

Only three days left before #IWSGPit. Are you ready?

Don't miss the July 30 deadline for the next IWSG Anthology.

Enter Now.

Quote of the Week: "The art of the creative process is not seeking and finding; it's bumbling." Jonathon Safran Foer, American Novelist

Hero Lost, Mysteries of Death and Life, Part 3

noreply@blogger.com (cleemckenzie) — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 11:30:00 +0000

Hero Lost, Mysteries of Death and Life, Part 3

This July I'll be featuring the twelve authors (three each Monday) who contributed stories to the

Hero Lost Mysteries of Death and Life

An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology

Website - Lost Hero Anthology

Print ISBN 9781939844361 $14.95

eBook ISBN 9781939844378 $4.99

Goodreads

Print:

Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Books A Million

EBook:

Nook, iTunes, Kobo, Amazon, Amazon UK, and Amazon CA

Each author has submitted their favorite inspirational quote, so this month I won't be adding my usual quote.

Thank you, authors!

Ellen Jacobson, The Silvering

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ―Mark Twain

Facebook | Blog | Google +

Olga Godim, Captain Bulat

"Fantasy is an exercise bicycle for the mind. It might not take you anywhere, but it tones up the muscles that can." ―Terry Pratchett

Website and Blog | GoodReads | Wattpad | Twitter

Erika Beebe, The Wheat Witch

“You will write if you will write without thinking of the result in terms of a result, but think of the writing in terms of discovery, which is to say that creation must take place between the pen and the paper, not before in a thought or afterwards in a recasting... It will come if it is there and if you will let it come.” ―Gertrude Stein

Facebook | Blog | Twitter

Clock's ticking! Do you have your #IWSGPit ready?

Don't miss the July 30 deadline for the next IWSG Anthology.

Enter Now.

Quote of the Week: "Destiny is a name often given in retrospect to choices that had dramatic consequences." J.K. Rowling

Hero Lost, Mysteries of Death and Life, Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (cleemckenzie) — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 11:30:00 +0000

Hero Lost, Mysteries of Death and Life, Part 2

This July I'll be featuring the twelve authors (three each Monday) who contributed stories to the

Hero Lost Mysteries of Death and Life

An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology

Website - Lost Hero Anthology

Print ISBN 9781939844361 $14.95

eBook ISBN 9781939844378 $4.99

Goodreads

Print:

Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Books A Million

EBook:

Nook, iTunes, Kobo, Amazon, Amazon UK, and Amazon CA

Each author has submitted their favorite inspirational quote, so this month I won't be adding my usual quote.

Thank you, authors!

Tyrean Martinson, Of Words and Swords

“Fantasy is hardly an escape from reality. It's a way of understanding it.” ―Lloyd Alexander

Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Elizabeth Seckman, Mind Body Soul

“It’s none of their business that you have to learn to write. Let them think you were born that way.” ―Ernest Hemingway

Blog | Facebook | Really Real Housewives

Sean McLachlan, The Witch Bottle

I can't give the whole quote because it's a poem--"All the Way" by Charles Bukowski. His poem "The Laughing Heart" is a good one too, but the first poem is more directed at writers.

Also, a great spoken word for all creative types can be found here: 

YouTube |Facebook | Blog

Don't miss the July 30 deadline for the next IWSG Anthology.

Enter Now.

Have you read an anthology lately? Will you enter to be included in the next anthology?

And whatever you do, don't miss July 27th #IWSGPit on Twitter. 8am-8pm Over 30 agents are checking the twitter feed.

Quote of the Week: "Life is like a game of poker: If you don't put anything in the pot, there won't be anything to take out." Moms Mabley

Let's Talk Insecurity

noreply@blogger.com (cleemckenzie) — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 11:30:00 +0000

Thanks Alex

Remember, the question is optional!

July 5 Question: What is one valuable lesson you've learned since you started writing?

The awesome co-hosts for the July 5 posting of the IWSG will be Tamara Narayan, Pat Hatt, Patricia Lynne, Juneta Key, and Doreen McGettigan!

The I-Word is not too big, only ten letters long. Yet it carries one of the biggest, scariest emotions writers deal with every day. Here are three questions that cause my insecure quotient to rise.

Is this book ready to submit?
The first question is huge. You have only your own intuitions to follow until you offer it up for readers and feedback. And you must do that. Others will see the positives and the negatives. They'll call attention to things you missed while tending to the big picture. They may open up new threads that escaped your notice. And they'll help you answer that first question.

Who should I submit to?
Today the choices are many: sub to an agent, sub to a small press or do it yourself. Each of these choices takes you down a different road, and before you start, you have no idea what that road will be like. It's only after you look back that you either regret or cheer your decision.

How should I submit it?
Time was that you queried, then waited. When the rejection came, you repeated that process. Today there are all kinds of ways to sub your manuscript. And . . .drum roll here. . .the Twitter Pitch Party is one of the most recent successes in the sub process.

#IWSGPit

July 27, 2017

8:00 am to 8:00 pm Eastern Time

Are you pitching? Will you take a look and follow the party? It should be wild and a lot of fun.

Hero Lost, Mysteries of Death and Life, Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (cleemckenzie) — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 11:30:00 +0000

This July I'll be featuring the twelve authors (three each Monday) who contributed stories to the

Hero Lost Mysteries of Death and Life

An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology

Website - Lost Hero Anthology

Print ISBN 9781939844361 $14.95
eBook ISBN 9781939844378 $4.99

Goodreads

Print:

Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Books A Million

EBook:

Nook, iTunes, Kobo, Amazon, Amazon UK, and Amazon CA

Each author has submitted their favorite inspirational quote, so this month I won't be adding my usual quote.

Thank you, authors!

Jen Chandler, The Mysteries of Death and Life

"Keep working. Follow the shape of your mind's particulars (its rhythms, its oddities) like a bloodhound, and take the 'narrative' as far as you possibly can, so that the words are utterly yours, so that you're writing in that singular way that singular thing NO ONE but you can write. Each time." ―Ari Banias, poet, From an interview in the Jan/Feb 2017 issue of Poets & Writers Magazine

Blog | Instagram

L. Nahay, Breath Between Seconds

"A writer is a world trapped within a person." ―Victor Hugo

Web | Blog | Twitter | Instagram

Roland Yeomans, Sometimes They Come Back

"Just because I am on a different path than you does not mean I am lost." ―Samuel McCord

Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Don't miss the July 30 deadline for the next IWSG Anthology.

Enter Now.

For all My Email Connect Peeps I'm offering a free mobi or mp3 of a short story from the anthology, Beware the Little White Rabbit.

Have you read an anthology lately?

Why You Shouldn't Write Books

noreply@blogger.com (cleemckenzie) — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 11:30:00 +0000

I’m always entertained by things my non-writer friends say about what I do. Things like, “It’s so neat that you do your own thing without other people telling how to do it.” Or, “Love the idea of royalties. I’d like to make lots of money while I’m on vacation.” Or, “How neat it would be to work by myself! I wouldn’t have to get along with that bunch in the office.” And here’s a great one. “So you just write the story and send it to an editor who fixes all the problems?”

Right.

I thought this article might show them how wrong their ideas are about what a writer’s life is like and maybe someone considering a writing career might find this useful as well.

So what are the reasons Not To Write?

If you can’t take criticism, put down your pen and turn off that computer. From the first word to the last period, your writing should be up for comment and suggestion. If you’re lucky, you have a professional and keen-eyed critique group that will help you make your manuscript the best it can be before you put it up for sale. And if you do make a sale and your book is published, your readers may or may not be delighted with what you’ve written. Reviews can be great and they can be terrible.

If you think you’re going to make lots of money fast, think again. Sure there are some writers who hit the top and stay there, but the majority do not. Many don’t sell books at all. Some sell a few. Some do manage to create a steady income. It’s a hard game and you have to be prepared for not seeing a lot of return for your time and energy invested.

If you can’t get along with others, you’re in for some hard times as a writer. There will be deadlines to meet. If you don’t meet them, you inconvenience others. There will be people who want your help and support with their writing. If you can’t do that, then don’t expect others to help and support your writing. Then there will be the public, the people who read your books. If you you can’t interact with them, so that they enjoy meeting you, do you think they’ll look for your next book? Quite possibly not.

If you don’t want to spend the time editing and re-writing, then take up tennis or go shopping. A good book isn’t written the first time through. If anyone says they can do a first draft that’s perfect, I want to see it.

Can you think of other reasons people shouldn’t write books?

Don't forget to visit my Featured Follower of the Month, J.H. Moncrief, if you haven't already. And are you up for some free books? Say so in the comment section.

My Email Connect Followers are in for a treat this month with two free book offers from this author. Thanks, J.H.

If you haven't heard the great news, The Insecure Writer's Support Group is now in the top 101 best websites on Writer's Digest!

Quote of the Week: "No performer should attempt to bite off red-hot iron unless he has a good set of teeth." Harry Houdini (This is true of writers, too! Don't you think?)

Let Me Tell You a Story About Enid

noreply@blogger.com (cleemckenzie) — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 11:30:00 +0000

In my middle grade story, Sign of the Green Dragon, I finally had a chance to write about Chinese mythology. It fascinates me because I fell in love with China and her ancient stories a long time ago.

When I was about six, a woman named Enid Mihilov took me under her literary wing. She had an amazing library with many books from all over the world, but the Chinese ones were distinct. I didn’t realize it at the time, but those books, which she allowed me to hold, were very old, one-of-a-kind, and in retrospect, must have been printed on handmade paper in a long-ago century. Enid read them to me in Chinese while I looked at the pictures. Misty mountains. Dragons streaming through the sky on important business for an emperor. Exotic silk gowns and palaces of gold.

Dragon on a Canal Barge

This person opened a lot of things about the world to me. In the center of her library was a globe in a wooden cradle that was bigger than I was. I still remember her turning that globe, tracing the Yangtze River across China and telling me about the beauty of the Three Gorges. When I was older, I understood how much this Russian woman had traveled, that she spoke several languages, and knew more first-hand about geography than my teachers.

When I finally did land in the Far East, I was primed to absorb as much about that culture as possible. I climbed the Great Wall, explored palaces and finally went up the Yangtze through the Three Gorges before the dam was completed and closed off one of the most beautiful areas in the world.

At the Top of the Great Wall with Two Friends

Enid and I kept in touch for years, even after my family moved. Unfortunately, when we returned to see her, she had died, so I never had a chance to tell her how important our time together had been to me. Someday I’m going to write what I remember of my afternoons with Enid Mihilov. And having written that, I think I have a title already.

This month I'm featuring another writer who loves to travel. J.H. Moncrieff jets off to far away places to soak up the settings and get ready to write her next story of suspense or horror. She has several out and I've read one so far. I'll be reading more in the future.

Here's my review of The Bear Who Wouldn't Leave.

AMAZON

". . .a web of conspiracy, betrayal, and murder."

Don't forget that SUBMISSION are open for the next #ISWG Anthology. You have until July 31 to submit.
Title: Writing for Profit
Word Limit: 500-1000 words
Submission: admin AT insecurewriterssupportgroup DOT com

Quote of the Week: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.”
― Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad/Roughing It

Please Make Me Want to Read Your Book

noreply@blogger.com (cleemckenzie) — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 16:10:00 +0000

Please make me want to read your book. I really want to read it, but you have to help me out.

This may seem odd, but last month I started three books; I was only able to finish two. In one, the opening two sentences had three grammatical errors. Seriously. In the next one, the Kindle formatting was bad

I

had trouble following

the

story.

I finally found a book I could read and enjoy, so thank you for the fine editing, the good formatting and the satisfying read, Ms. Professional Author.

#IWSG Book Club selection this month is The Secret Garden. We're reading it to have a discussion about characterization. There are several reasons not to finish this book. One is the omniscient point of view. The author takes you into everyone's head, including some small animals, without so much as a scene change. Then there's the heavy use of respelling to create the Yorkshire dialect. That's hard to follow, especially when there are long chunks of one person speaking. It's filled with tropes such as the wise and gentle peasant in the bucolic cottage, the orphaned girl, the invalid restored to health by nature, the grieving uncle off to find solace in other places. Most of the story is written in what today's critics call Telling. The author simply tells you how the characters feel, she doesn't bother to reveal those feelings by Showing the character in action.

However, it still holds up as a great story. First, I responded to the story as a period piece, and then before I knew it, I was caught up and wanted to follow the MC's journey to the end. It didn't matter that I was head-hopping or that I was being told how the characters felt. I was in the hands of a storyteller and enjoying the time in her tale.

If you haven't joined us, I hope you will. The discussions are interesting.

Join Us

Clare Dugmore and Kyra Lennon

Enter and tell about those small things that make you smile!

Here are mine: The view from the top of any mountain. Hills, too. The morning. A good friend who stops by. An excellent book. My family.

Quote of the Week: "Books are uniquely portable magic." Stephen King

#IWSG Attack of the Insecurity Monster and How To Survive It

noreply@blogger.com (cleemckenzie) — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 11:30:00 +0000

Thanks Alex

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.

Remember, the question is optional!

June 3 Question: Did you ever say “I quit”? If so, what happened to make you come back to writing?

The awesome co-hosts for the June 7 posting of the IWSG will be JH Moncrieff, Madeline Mora-Summonte, Jen Chandler, Megan Morgan, and Heather Gardner!

Source

It's so easy to ward off the attack of the Insecurity Monster. Look at this tiny girl does it! She points and says, "Back off buddy. You don't scare me."

Confronting our insecurities isn't quite this simple, but running away or hiding won't work. I know that from personal experience. And if you're already a #IWSG member, you've taken a giant step toward being as brave as little miss on the left. Pat yourself on the back, then get busy writing or submitting your work with confidence.

Answer to June 3 Question: I haven't said, I quit yet. I hate quitting projects until I've done what I set out to do. I haven't succeeded in what I want to do in my writing yet, so quitting's not an option.

Oh and look what's happening next!

The IWSG Guide to Writing for Profit--This will be a non-fiction book like our Guide to Publishing and Beyond.

What to write: Share experiences about making a profit as an author, what it takes to become a successful writer, the many skills a writer needs to learn other than writing, share the experience going from hobby writer to published author (without making it a self-promotion piece), the fallacies behind writing for profit, the little known facts learned along the way, what you wished you knew when you first started writing, or marketing tips based on experience of what has worked and what hasn't. Please include a title, your name, and a link to one of your sites. Send as an attached Word file or pasted into the email.

If you have any questions, email us at admin AT insecurewriterssupportgroup.com

Word limit: 500-1000 words.

Submission eligibility: All members of the IWSG Blog Hop, IWSG Facebook group and/or members of our IWSG Goodreads Book Club. It's free to join any of these groups and a great benefit to be a part of these communities.

Deadline: July 31, 2017

Send your piece to admin AT insecurewriterssupportgroup.com as an attached Word document and note which IWSG group you belong to. Please include your name, a one line bio, and one website link.

Do you like the monthly question?
Are you going to jump into the IWSG next amazing adventure and submit your experience?

Horror In June? How about More Excitement from #IWSG?

noreply@blogger.com (cleemckenzie) — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 11:30:00 +0000

Yes to Horror in June because J. H. Moncrieff is my Featured Follower.

Who is J.H. Moncrieff? Her blog says she "has been obsessed with psychological suspense, mysteries, and true crime for as long as she can remember. She’s endlessly fascinated by what makes people tick and has visited many of the world’s most haunted places."

So, are you ready for a few bone-shaking, nail-biting tales? Here you go!

The Girl Who Talks to Ghosts is her latest. Is this a great cover, or what?

"J.H. Moncrieff is a bold new voice in horror and supernatural suspense." - Chuck Wendig, New York Times Bestselling Author of Blackbirds

Amazon (universal) . Kobo . Barnes & Noble . iBooks

City of Ghosts.

On the day the villagers were forced to flee Hensu, not everyone got out alive.

***** Review
"The characters came to life and I couldn't stop worrying about them! The writing,characterization, structure--everything that makes a reader keep turning pages--contributed to this outstanding novel. Thanks for an incredible read!"
Amazon (universal) . Kobo . Barnes & Noble . iBooks

My Email Connect Followers are in for a treat this month with two free book offers from this author. Thanks, J.H.

You can check out her other books as well and connect with the author here.

Twitter . Facebook . Website . Pinterest

Goodreads Book of the Month is The Secret Garden

Don't Miss June 7 #IWSG Post. Big News

Welcome to two new #IWSG Admins.

Pat Hatt, our Twitterer for @The IWSG

Nick Wilford, our man on the Contests Page.

Quote of the Week: "Searchers after horror haunt strange, far places."

H. P. Lovecraft

Let Me Tell You A Story about The Goose and Black Coffee

noreply@blogger.com (cleemckenzie) — Mon, 29 May 2017 11:30:00 +0000

When Memorial Day arrives, I think of my dad and his stories of WWII. He didn't tell me many until the last days of his life, but I have a collection of them in my head and remembering them is a way for me to remember him and celebrate him along with the others who've fought for our freedom.

The Goose and Black Coffee is one of my favorites, so I'm sharing it here today for my dad and all those others. Most of what I'm sharing is correct, but this is a story from an old memory, passed on to me some years ago and from sketchy notes in his photo album. The essence of the story is the best I can do.

France May, 1944

It was a gray day and the four dogfaces were tired and cold, in need of a place to sleep out of the weather. Their stomachs growled for something to eat. As they drove down a country road, they spotted a spiral of smoke. There was nothing unusual in seeing smoke, but even from a distance it didn't look like a house was on fire. And it wasn't a field. As they came nearer, they saw that it was a fireplace. That meant they might find something to eat and a place to take shelter before joining up with their unit. They were recon, so they often were ahead of the others and more frequently across enemy lines than behind them.

At the farmhouse gate, they pulled their Jeep to a stop. This place had escaped the bombs. The barn was still standing, and one lonely goose wandered out, then flapped its way around the side of the house, which was also untouched by the war. They might have driven off, my dad said, but they couldn't resist the aroma of freshly brewed coffee coming from that house.

When they entered the kitchen, it was clear that the family had been there moments before my dad and the others got out of the Jeep. They poured themselves some coffee, and as my dad recalled, he'd never tasted anything quite a wonderful.

Now their stomachs really cried out for something to eat and that goose was out there and this might be the last real meal any of the men would have for weeks. The goose gave its life for the U.S. Army that day, and my dad, who was always handy in the kitchen, seasoned it and put it into the oven. Now all they had to do was wait. They were dry. They were warm for the first time in weeks. They'd soon have enough goose to last until D-Day, they joked.

They kicked back and savored the scent of sizzling goose and were debating about a quick nap when the bombs started raining down on them. Like my dad said, "We were not leaving that goose or that coffee behind."

They grabbed the partially cooked goose from the oven, the coffee from the stove and jumped into the Jeep. With the goose and coffee secured between two of them in the back, they drove off, barely escaping the bombs.

It took them three days to find another house with a workable stove and oven, but when they did, they also found several unbroken bottles of wine. They stuffed that goose back into the oven, reheated the coffee and uncorked a little wine--maybe a lot of wine.

Above this picture my dad wrote, "Photo below brings back memories. Had a goose in oven of home with all veggies and big post of coffee going. 10 minutes after photo we were under heavy fire. Carried that goose for 3 days with that coffee before we could do it justice."

Dad's looking kind of serious second from the left. Not the best shot of him.

Here's the "Recon Fox" that Disney presented to the 93rd Reconnaissance Squadron Mechanized that my dad was part of. I love looking through his collection of photos and notes. I find something I didn't know about each time.

Quote of the Week: "A man's country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers and woods, it is a principle and patriotism is loyalty to that principle." George William Curtis

My Short Post of the Month, But There is a Tomato Report

noreply@blogger.com (cleemckenzie) — Mon, 22 May 2017 11:30:00 +0000

Cathrina Constantine has been my May Featured Follower. I hope you'll buy her book, read it and review it. The sixties! Ah, the sixties!

One of my good friends, S.A. Larson has a new book coming out. Take a look!

I read the excerpt on the author's blog and now have this book on my list. You can buy it here.

The Tomato Report

Then there's the on-going tomato saga. No tomatoes, but one heck of a lot of shrubberies. Anyone who doesn't live in the mountains can't understand the struggle to get tomatoes before September, and that's exactly what I've set out to do. I'm challenging Mother Nature. Man is she tough!

You might notice the brevity of this post. Let me explain. I'm writing. I'm in the cave, and I am not doing as well as I'd like; however, a little setback like not "getting" the characters, or not "getting" the plot and tension, or not "getting" the whole #!$$! story together is not bothering me. Just wanted you to know.

Quote of the Week:

Keep in mind, Brevity is the souls of wit. . .or sometimes you're just short of time. Well, aren't we all?

Let Me Tell You A Story & My UnTomato Report

noreply@blogger.com (cleemckenzie) — Mon, 15 May 2017 11:30:00 +0000

My mother-in-law spent her early years in a small town called New Pine Creek. It straddles the border between Oregon and California, and it can see some heavy winters. She often told the story about the winter Goose Lake froze so quickly that it trapped geese--froze their feet to the surface before they could escape.

Every time she told that story, people laughed.
"Not possible."

I have to admit I was skeptical, but she was an honest person, so I accepted her story as the truth. Well, and she was my husband's mother.

When I found this video about geese who were frozen in a pond and held it up as evidence, that still wasn't enough for some naysayers.

"Ponds are shallow and it's possible for them to freeze quickly. Lakes are deep, and that couldn't happen on one of them."

Ah ah, research to the rescue! I discovered that Goose Lake has a very shallow edge, so my mother-in-law's story from her childhood, was quite possibly true.

Want a little heart-warming video about a very cold goose? Here you go!

The UnTomato Report

Tomatoes in May? Not Quite, but my roses aren't too shabby this year. One reason is that we mended the fence and the deer haven't feasted on them. 1 for the gardener. 0 for the deer.

Are you a member of The Insecure Writers Group Book Club? No? I'm shocked. 200 of us are. Join up and get in on the discussion of our first book this month,

Chapter After Chapter: Discover the Dedication & Focus You Need to Write the Book of Your Dreams

TheWriteGame

Moving Day!

Taking A Break

I'm taking a break.See Everyone November 1st on #IWSG Day!

Show Us Your Writer Insecurity! Special #IWSG Day!

Hashtag Insecurity

Happy Labor Day & Break Time for The Write Game

Meet Bouhaki, and then Let Me Tell You A Story

Books. Books. Books. AND Insecurity Pride Day!

Write, Edit, Publish. REUNIONS!

Heads Up! WEP Ahead

August Featured Follower, Yolanda Renee

#IWSG Special October Fun

Mark it on your calendar! OCTOBER 4 is a special IWSG Wednesday. There are prizes to win. There's fun to be had. So get ready and jump in for some fall excitement.

What The Delivery Guys From Macy's Taught Me & Nick's Cover

Hero Lost, Mysteries of Death and Life, Part 4

Hero Lost, Mysteries of Death and Life, Part 3

Hero Lost, Mysteries of Death and Life, Part 3

Hero Lost, Mysteries of Death and Life, Part 2

Hero Lost, Mysteries of Death and Life, Part 2

Let's Talk Insecurity

Hero Lost, Mysteries of Death and Life, Part 1

Hero Lost Mysteries of Death and Life

An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology

Why You Shouldn't Write Books

Let Me Tell You a Story About Enid

Please Make Me Want to Read Your Book

#IWSG Attack of the Insecurity Monster and How To Survive It

Remember, the question is optional!

Horror In June? How about More Excitement from #IWSG?

Let Me Tell You A Story about The Goose and Black Coffee

My Short Post of the Month, But There is a Tomato Report

Let Me Tell You A Story & My UnTomato Report

The UnTomato Report

Quote of the Week: "The Earth laughs in flowers." Ralph Waldo Emerson

I'm taking a break.
See Everyone November 1st on #IWSG Day!