Grateful Writer

http://sandrawarrenwrites.blogspot.com

A COLLABORATION OF WRITERS

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Warren) — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Last year, the Adventures in Writing Club, of which I am a member, decided it would be fun to write a cozy mystery novel. The members, five writers--two poets, Annette Larkin, John Stickney; two historical fiction writers Sandra Warren, E.Jax Willoughby; and a sci-fi writer, James Salkeld; gathered to do what some thought impossible. Yes, that's correct. All five were attempting to write a novel.

Everyone else seemed to think that a collaboration of this type would be challenging, but not one of the writers voiced any doubts. It's safe to say, however, a collaboration of this kind could only happen with respect, something these writers had in spades. They respected each other's imagination, creativity and writing skills. And, even though not everyone had publishing credits, no one writer had more control than the other.

From week to week, the writers, now known as the Lake Norman Writers Guild, developed interesting characters, created a setting ripe for mischief, produced a crime with many suspects and dropped a few red herrings.

Inspired by the community in which they all live, the writers gleaned and tweaked their experiences to form a tapestry of guilt and intrigue that you could, but hopefully won't, find in any active adult community.

The result: Auras of Deceit: A Trivolity Cozy Mystery!

This cozy mystery marries a lighthearted look at life in an active adult community with daring and intrigue when a "game of murder" goes horribly wrong.

Auras of Deceit debuted shortly before the Christmas holidays and is available at Amazon in paperback and Kindle ebook.

Curl up with your favorite drink and Auras of Deceit for a delicious, funny-fun read!

The Lake Norman Writers Guild is available for Book Talks and Presentations locally near Charlotte, NC or via Zoom. Recommend it to your Book Club and receive one FREE Autographed Copy and a FREE Zoom meeting with one or all of the writers.

Contact: Sandra Warren www.sandrawarren.com

TO AI OR NOT TO AI: THAT IS THE QUESTION?

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Warren) — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 21:48:00 +0000

To AI or not to AI? That is the question I, like other writers, are facing. When my work-in-progress is finished, I want to be able to honestly say that artificial intelligence was not used to create the story. That is a question some publishers are asking with submissions.

So what's a writer to do?

It's tempting to allow the latest AI version to partially or completely do the work. But if you do, the finished product isn't really yours, is it? I think not. Others may argue that although AI will never be able to compete with the creativity and emotionalism needed in a good story, it can come pretty darn close.

Personally, I'm against using AI to create a story, but I can see value in using AI to analyze the final product, as long as you take what is written with a grain of salt. Recently, while involved with a collaboration of writers creating a cozy mystery novel, one of the writers plugged the final manuscript into AI for an analysis. What came back was an amazing look at story arc, character development with percentages of time each character appeared in the story, plot development, chapter strengths and weak spots, etc. In short, I'd never seen a critique so thorough yet specific. It gave enough information to allow us to make some changes and beef up parts we felt needed it. It helped us look at the manuscript from a different lense.

AI can also be helpful to research clothing or setting or products for a period piece. For example, What kinds of things might you find in a 1950's grocery store? Or what would a gravel pit look like? Or what kind of equipment would a blacksmith use? Or what kinds of jobs and equipment are needed to build a skyscraper? Anything you might need to make your characters, your setting, your story more authentic.

I think it's safe to say artificial intelligence can be used by you in the same way you'd use any other resource.

Condensing a complete manuscript into a synopsis is another way AI might be of help. It's always a challenge to write a synopsis, especially if only one paragraph is requested. AI could give you ideas for a long and a short one.

Any good submission letter includes or should include recent work comparable to your submission. AI might be able to help with that, too.

It goes without saying that any help received should be put in your own words.

How do you feel about AI? Are you using it? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

************ Recommend one of Sandra's books for your next Book Club read and receive one FREE autographed copy and a FREE Zoom talk!

www.sandrawarren.com or www.arliebooks.com

http://sandrawarrenwrites.blogspot.com

New Year! New Goal!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Warren) — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 22:25:00 +0000

If you've been one of my faithful followers, you know that I've not been consistent in blogging over the years. In this NEW YEAR, 2026, my goal is to share more of what I'm up to on a regular basis. But, since January is already half over and I'm just getting started, I've already earned a C-minus or worse! I vow to be better!

To be perfectly honest, I've always struggled with what to share. In my mind, posts needed to be meaningful, and to me, meaningful mean't something that teaches or inspires; something that will resonate with you, my readers and encourage you to make a comment, share with your social media friends or talk about it to others. Just writing this make me see my thinking is over-the-top. What others think about what I write is not my responsibility. What I write might be meaningful to some but it's impossible to inspire everyone. And to think I can is not realistic.

So, scratch the meaningful idea. I'm just going to post whatever I'm mentally processing at the moment.

If you have ideas or information you'd like me to write about, please share them them in a comment section.

HAPPY NEW YEAR and Thanks for following me!

REVISITING PATRIOTIC RENDERINGS

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Warren) — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 21:49:00 +0000

With our country's 250th Anniversary right around the corner, it's time to revisit the patriotic offerings I was proud to pen for adults and middle-school students.

We Bought A WWII Bomber: The Untold Story of a Michigan High School, a B-17 Bomber and The Blue Ridge Parkway, is the incredible true story of what students from a high school in Grand Rapids, Michigan, did in 1943, during WWII. They participated in the "Buy a Bomber" campaign and within eight weeks time, they instigated War Bond & Defense Stamp sales of over $375,000 which enabled them to buy, name and christen a B-17 Bomber and send it off to war.

I became interested in this story because it happened at the high school I attended many years later. There was a huge poster of the bomber on the wall in the school bookstore where I worked during school breaks. I knew something about the story, all of us did, but as a teen, I really didn't care about it. Jump ahead fifty-years to a presentation given at the reunion where the bomber story was mentioned. It peaked the interest of one of my classmates to find the bomber that was purchased. You see, on April 6, 1943, students had gathered at the local airport to dedicate the plane. It flew off with all their hopes and dreams that it would fight the definitive battle and bring their fathers, uncles, and brothers home and they never knew what happened to it! My classmate found that it had crashed in Meadows of Dan, Virginia, less than three hours from where I live.

My classmate called me and asked me to find out the whole story. I was able to verify that it was our school's bomber which opened up a whole new side of the story.

She Started It All, is an historical fiction version of the nonfiction bomber story as told above, written for middle-school students. Even though the true bomber story is about what school-aged students did, I thought it would be fun to change it all into fiction. Set in a middle-school in the city near where the real B-17 bomber crashed, the WWII history reports of two students, one male and one female, collide in a surprising way when they discover they were reporting on the exact same airplane.

When both books are used together in a classroom, they provide students with an excellent example how an author turns nonfiction into fiction.

When Duty Called Even Grandma Had To Go, tells 2nd Lt. Dianah Kwiatkowski's story of enlisting in the Army Reserves as a nurse, at forty-seven years of age and within two months of enlisting, being sent off to serve in The Persian Gulf War. This decision turned into a life-altering experience.

Hidden Casualties: Battles On The Home Front, shares Sgt. Sara Raye's experience serving her country as an Army Reserves Nurse in The Persian Gulf War and coming home to discover her ex-husband had stolen custody of their three children while she was gone. Her battle to get them back would involve the military in two unprecendented moves and ultimately result in a change in enlistment requirements for single parents.

These two memoirs came about in a strange way. In November of 1991, a few days after voting, I received a telephone call from 2nd Lt. Kwiatkowski telling me that someone in line in front of her waiting to vote, overheard her saying she was a veteran of the Persian Gulf War and couldn't find someone to write her memoirs. That stranger turned around and said, "Excuse me. You need to call Sandra Warren, she lives in Strongsville. Look her up in the book."

When the call came from 2nd Lt. Kwiatkowski, my immediate reaction was, "I don't write memoirs! I write children's books!" The lieutenant then begged me to let her come talk to me. She said that "God told her to call me!" Now how could I turn down a request like that? We met and the rest is history.

A few weeks after starting the Lieutenant's book, she came to me and said, "There's a Sergeant in my troop who served with me in the Persian Gulf, who has a story that needs to be told. Can I tell her to call you?" I said, "yes," and once again, as the saying goes, the rest is history.

Both books were completed using interviews with each military nurse, their bosses and colleagues in uniform. Meeting both brave nurses and writing their memoirs opened my eyes to life in the military, the challenges and the joys, and increased my admiration for all who serve, ten-fold. Those memoirs, along with the story of the patriotism shown during WWII, made me more proud to be an American than ever before.

Thank the brave men and women who give their ALL in defense of our freedom! Always remember, FREEDOM ISN'T FREE!

Sandra Warren

Thank you for reading my blog. Comments are always appreciated.

The books mentioned above are available on Amazon. If you should read one of them, please share your honest likes and/or dislikes on Goodreads and Amazon. Thanks again!

www.san drawarren.com or www.arliebooks.com

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COULD YOU FORGIVE?

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Warren) — Wed, 28 May 2025 21:16:00 +0000

Some of the biggest challenges in life are not physical, but rather mental ones that cut you to the core and challenge your faith, your morality, your integrity, sense of fairness and your very being. Just about one year ago today, on a bright sunny June morning, one such challenge broadsided me.

It came from one of my three brothers, in a telephone call, telling me that our youngest brother, was in a bike accident and things didn’t look good.

My 59-year-old brother was the picture of health. He ate well, exercised and maintained a healthy lifestyle. He was married, with three grown children and three new grandbabies. Biking with his Christian Bicycle Club was one of his great pleasures in life. In this group of sixty bike enthusiasts, he was known as “Mr. Cautious” because of his strict adherence to safety off and on the bike.

On this fateful day he was checking out a new ride for the club. He was riding in the bike lane on a country road with rolling hills and gentle curves, when a car rounded the bend, came across into the oncoming lane and hit him head on sending him one hundred and two feet down the road. The car continued onto the shoulder, then ran between two telephone poles, crossed the street twice more and landed in a deep gully in someone’s front yard. There were three witnesses to the accident, homeowners who happened to be working on their lawns at the time.

The thirty-nine-year-old woman behind the wheel had just been granted early release from prison having been sentenced to ten years for drug possession; had no driver’s license; and was high on Meth, Fentanyl and one other illegal drug. She didn’t even know she’d hit someone.

It was six months before she came to trial and another five months before she was sentenced. The verdict was guilty on three counts. She was sentenced to 15-years with no chance of parole-to life in prison. Before the sentence was announced, the family was allowed to address the woman.

Take a moment and think, what would you say to this woman? If you were writing a story, what would you have your characters say or do? Could you forgive?

Only one of my two remaining brothers was able to attend the trials. I was unable to attend. My Texas brother sent a statement that was read to the woman at the sentencing hearing.

The letter talked of my younger brother’s strong faith and how, had he met the woman, he would have loved to talk to her. It spoke of the family and how they were all Christians and how they know she didn’t do this on purpose. To paraphrase the last paragraph,

“Please know that I don’t hate you. My prayer for you is that you will come to know peace in understanding that your remaining years are nothing in terms of eternity. You still have choices. Please choose to find the faith my brother had and become a light in a dark place.”

The judge commented that in all her years of serving on the bench, she’d never witnessed such loving forgiveness.

Could you forgive?

To read another extraordinary story of forgiveness in the face of tragedy, check out the novel, by Australian author, Dr. Bob Rich, titled, Hit and Run! Read my review of Hit and Run along with an interview with Dr. Rich, in my February, 2021 blogpost!

Contact: sandra@arliebooks.com

https://sandrawarrenwrites.blogspot.com/

https://www.sandrawarren.com or https://www.arliebooks.com

I BINGE READ A "WRITING BOOK!"

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Warren) — Sun, 24 Sep 2023 20:32:00 +0000

I binge read a book about writing! Seriously, I did. Who does that? What could be more unexciting than the verbiage in a writing book, especially when a stack of highly recommended novels sit on my bedside table waiting to be read?

The book arrived on my doorstep after agreeing to write a review for an author I had not previously known. The title and sub-title intriqued me; TIME TO WRITE: Inspiring Lessons and Practical Skills for Writing The Novel You've Always Wanted, by Emily Winslow. My husband retrieved it when the mail came, opened the package and left it on the counter. Later that evening, I picked it up, just to get a feel for what I was up against and thumbed through it. My eyes lit on the first page of chapter one, and I was hooked.

Unlike most "how to" books that concentrate on the discipline of writing everyday and completeing X number of words per day, this author emphasized the importance of rest and daydreaming.

"This is because there are lots of steps to writing a book and writing is only one of them. Daydreaming, brainstorming, and what-iffing are parts of an essential foundation that count as a form of progress." A Time To Write, Chapter 1, Page 1.

The book is divided into eight parts: Getting Started, Writing Skills, Storytelling Skills, Technical Skills, Facing The Middle, Being Understood By Others, The Professional Life, and Your Future, with multiple chapters in each part. Intriqing chapter titles like Day Dreaming and Discipline, Grocery Bags and Maypoles, Wonder and Worry, and Tasting The Ginger, give you a flavor of her sense of humor and creative ways of sharing the information. Writing skills are masterfully separated from storytelling skills as are all skills, in short chapters using clear-cut examples and analogies. This is just a small part of what drew me into binging this book. Oh, and I might add, I highlighted something on almost every page!

You don't have to be writing a novel to learn from this book. There is something, many things, inside for every writer no matter where they/you are in their/your writing, publishing journey.

If you can only buy one book on writing, make it "TIME TO WRITE: Inspiring Lessons and Practical Skills for Writing the Novel You've Always Wanted, by Emily Winslow. Here is the link to Emily Winslow's website and books: bit.ly/48t8uqP

I'd love to hear from you if you find this book as useful as I did. Well, not just if you read the book. I'd love to hear from you anyway.

Happy Writing!

Sandra Warren is the author of books in several genres. https://www/sandrawarren.com https://www.arliebooks.com

Contact: Email: sandra@arliebooks.com

Prejudice Begins In The Home

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Warren) — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 18:00:00 +0000

Note: Can it really be a year since I blogged? My goodness! As the world shut-down for COVID in 2020, many writer's were inspired to write with their new found time at home. I, on the other hand, was among those who shut-down mentally. Now, as we begin our third year of concern and semi-isolation with this horrible virus, I'm happy to say my creative juices are finally getting back on track. And although I'm not a prolific blogger, I vow to be better in 2022.

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This week, as we celebrate the legacy and historical contribution of Martin Luther King Jr., I'm reminded of my youth growing up and attending an integrated school in Michigan. That remarkable school, South High School, functioned, for the most part, like society should function; accepting and respecting the differences of others no matter their ethnic background, religion or color. It was a school in a factory neighborhood that was a melting pot of multiple nationalities including Dutch, Latvian, African American, Irish and German, to name a few. There were athletes and scholars and artists and musicians of all colors and creeds. It wasn't a perfect place by any means. There was prejudice, but it wasn't rampant. There was no them and us. Most grew up going to school with each other so attitudes were formed while very young. I was one of them.

My earliest recollection of racial differences that I can remember came about in first grade surrounding a birthday party for my friend, Edna Mae. She had a birthday party and I was the only one who showed up.

I was thrilled to have the story selected for inclusion in the first Chicken Soup For The Kid's Soul book. You can read all about it in the book, on page 46. "Edna Mae, First Lesson In Prejudice" has provoked interesting discussions among groups where children and adults gather; in classrooms, churches and recreational programs, to name a few.

Like most things, our attitudes are shaped by our environment and our earliest environment is the home. As parents, the first teachers our children know, we need to be mindful of the thoughts and ideas they
are picking up from our behaviors. Like the old saying, "manners are caught, not taught," so too is prejudice.

Do you remember your first encounter with prejudice?

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Contact Sandra Warren at www.sandrawarren.com

Hit and Run: An Interview with Australian author Dr. Bob Rich

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Warren) — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 21:25:00 +0000

Congratulations to Joan Edwards. She won a copy of Spivey's Christmas Web for commenting on my last blog.

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But the greatest of these is LOVE!

That's all I could think of as I neared the end of reading Hit and Run by Dr. Bob Rich.

In Hit and Run, the underlying themes of compassion, forgiveness and especially love propel the characters forward following a tragic murder where multiple children lose their lives. Led by 84-year old, Sylvia Kryz, a near victim herself, parents of the children who perished are challenged to set aside their grief and anger against the young perpetrator and help him become a reformed member of society.

The emotional side of this story will stay with you and force you to contemplate how you would react given the same set of circumstances.

Dr. Bob Rich has masterfully woven believable characters into a tale that models for us all the power of love and that's why I was compelled to know more about the author. His responses to my questions do not disappoint.

1. Where did the idea for Hit and Run come from? Your comment at the end made me think you might have a personal connection to the story.

I read an inspirational story in the newspaper. A man’s daughter was raped and killed. After the criminal was convicted to 30 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 15 years, he was so outraged he started a petition to have the death penalty reintroduced in Australia. His campaign was effective enough to get tens of thousands of signatures, although this was before the internet had taken off.

One day, he visited the criminal in jail, basically to gloat and rub it in. To his surprise, the person he met wasn’t a monster, but a damaged, hurting man whose only wish was to die. At first curiosity, then compassion, then even friendship replaced the bitterness and hate. He publicly retracted his campaign, trained as a social worker, and the newspaper article reported his first job in that jail, working to rehabilitate criminals.

There is no such thing as coincidence. A few days later, a blind old man was referred to me under a victims of crime scheme. A bunch of teenagers had bashed him up, and even hurt his old seeing-eye dog.

You can’t guide someone out of his hole by jumping in and joining him. In order to work with this poor man, I needed to get rid of my outrage. A standard psychological technique for that is “displacement.” I invented a far worse crime by a teenager: 14-year-old Chuck driving over 6 little kids and the crossing guard. I thought this would be a short story of just retribution, so I could focus my emotion there and maintain “professional distance” with my client.

I needed a witness within the story, so added an old lady he’d barely missed. That was Sylvia. Only,

once she came alive in my computer, she dictated the contents, and I was merely her scribe. The entire book is her record of the remarkable 9 months of contact between her and the young killer.

2. What was the most difficult part of the story to write?

Sandra, one of my personal clichés is, writing is the chocolate icing on the cake of life. When I write, I can get stuck, then simply allow the story to cook in some 7th dimension and come to me when it is ready. There were periods like that, but such things are just normal writing.

S: I love your cliché!

WRITING IS THE CHOCOLATE ICING ON THE CAKE OF LIFE!

2. Con't:

Hit and Run reports on several court hearings, and I needed to research these. Advice from three lawyers was very helpful. Having to correct the details could perhaps be called a difficulty. (Isn’t English a fun language? Do difficulties come when you call them?)

I also needed to change the names of a few important secondary characters. There is a 12-year-old girl who is in a foster home because her mother is dying of cancer. When she came to me, her name was Petra. But later, Sylvia told me that her abusive father was actively searching for her, and a relatively unusual name would be easier to trace. So, she became Jenny. It took me quite a while to get used to the new name. My characters didn’t mind, because electronic people are fortunate to have a delete button. Don’t you wish us humans did too?

S: I know what you mean about changing a character's name. Midway through my last novel I did that and it was extremely difficult to picture that same character in the same way with the new name. I never would have believed it had I not been a writer.

3. You could not have written such a story without exhibiting some of Sylvia Kryz’s characteristics yourself. Did life experiences shape compassion and forgiveness on your part or were you born with it?

Oh no. As a young fellow, I was a passionate bully-basher. All my fights as a teenager were when protecting someone from victimization, but my reaction was violence rather than compassion. In my final year in high school, one of the other kids punched a teacher — an overweight man in his 60s, waiting to retire. I converted the boy’s face to hamburger and broke a few of his bones before others restrained me, and this taught me the lesson that two-way violence is twice as bad as violence one way.

This is one of the stories in my novel, Ascending Spiral, which is my fictionalized autobiography. I’ve

changed details for two reasons: first, it protects the guilty so I am less likely to be sued; second, my hero, Pip, faces the same life events I did, but handles them in the way I wish I had. That’s a standard therapeutic technique I describe in From Depression to Contentment: A self-therapy guide.

In the early days of my counseling practice, I could only work with a repentant bully. But then, as you suggested, I grew, and like that man who became a mentor for his daughter’s murderer, I realized that evil is what people do, not what people are. My task is to point to the path to a good life, and invite the other person to walk along it. Then it’s their choice whether they do or not. The outcome is not in my hands, but I can and should do the best I can.

Here is another of my personal clichés: all sentient beings are apprentice Buddhas, apprentice Jesuses. We are here to grow spiritually. Every human and other animal on this planet, perhaps even every complex plant, is on a rung along a very long ladder to enlightenment. We are all caterpillars feeding on the green leaves of experience, until we graduate into butterflies. A graduate is someone who intuitively, automatically, without effort, reacts to every other living being with the unconditional Love St. Paul describes in Corinthians 13. However, this is not a specifically Christian message. Have a look at http://bobswriting.com/bill/metta.html to see what I mean.

4. If it was innate, did it cause you problems growing up among children who tend to be egocentric?

Hmm. You just have to read Ascending Spiral.

I have two answers to that.

First, I was the shoulder to cry on. When a kid’s parents fought, he came to me for consolation. I didn’t tell him he was lucky to have parents — mine were on the other side of the planet, and I lived isolated in a migrant hostel. When a kid had girlfriend trouble, he unburdened himself to me. I didn’t tell him I’d never had a girlfriend, and was sure I never would. My problem was too much empathy. Often, I worried more about other people’s problems than they did themselves. That’s why I couldn’t be a therapist until training as a nurse toughened me up. (“It’s not your pain. You are not there to share it but to relieve it.”)

Second, perhaps paradoxically, I was (and am) a loner. I don’t know how to chat, prefer solitude and quiet to crowds, noise and parties, and am much less fun in real life than with my writing. Oh, I have the skills to get up on a stage and inspire an audience, or make them laugh, or teach them, but that’s a learned skill; a sort of a second skin I put on. For some lucky people, conversation is lubrication. They can amusingly talk with anyone about anything (or nothing). For people like me, conversation is information. When I have something to say, I can say it well, but... But tell me to “Go and sit there next to Sandra, and have a chat with her,” I’ll sit there like a dummy, unless you ask me questions to unplug my information reservoir.

5. You tend to wear many hats which reflect your desire to impact the world with positivity and love. If you could only wear one of those hats, which would it be?

I am trying to visualize this. Are those hats each on a separate head? In that case, I can eat LOTS of chocolate, with all those mouths! Or are the hats on top of each other? I’d better be careful, walking through a door.

Actually, I only have one role in life. Everything else I do is subsidiary to it. This is being a Professional Grandfather. Anyone born after 1992 qualifies as my grandchild; anyone after 1967 as my child. They merely need to apply. Trivia like nationality, skin color or religion don’t matter. Many hundreds have applied, and been adopted with love.

The job specification is that everything I do is working for a survivable future, and one worth surviving in. Both are equally important.

A survivable future means environmental action. We are in the 6th extinction event of earth, and when we unravel the web of life, we also fall through the hole. One worth surviving in means a society of decency, cooperation, compassion instead of the global culture we now have, which is ruled by greed and conflict.

6. When all is said and done, what do you want folks to remember about you?

I am not that fussed about what other people think of me. It’s more like, “I am going this way. It’s a good path, come with me. If you do, welcome, if not, have a good life.”

The only place to live in is THIS MOMENT. There is nothing else. If this moment I am in nirvana, then I am in nirvana. If this moment I am of benefit, then I am of benefit. So, I need to remember this, and shape this moment to be that of an apprentice Buddha.

If you go to my blog, Bobbing Around https://bobrich18.wordpress.com you will find a lot more along lines that will enable you to improve your life, regardless of your circumstances. The most important thing is to read my essay, “How to Change the World,” but there are many other goodies as well.

Among my stories, you’ll find two relevant to your questions: “Forgiveness,” and “Jarro.”

And there is a list of my published books too.

I’d like to mention Sleeper, Awake. I wrote this last century, and it won an international award in 2001.

It’s just been reissued by a new publisher, and the passage of 20 years has not reduced its value to entertain, to surprise, and when you’re not looking, to educate. Currently I am offering a free PDF copy to every follower of Bobbing Around, and every subscriber to my monthly newsletter. So, your visitors need only do one of those two things, and they have earned a free copy of a page-turner. Well, there is a payment requested: please write review.

S: Let me repeat in case you missed what you just read.

Dr. Bob is offering a FREE PDF download of his award winning novel Sleeper,Awake for the price of a REVIEW!

No contest! No random.org! Just sign up for his blog, https://bobrich18.wordpress.com, request the PDF and share your thoughts in a review. It couldn't be easier than that.

Thank you! Thank you Dr. Bob Rich for your candid and insightful responses to my questions. Learning the backstory to Hit and Run enhances its message and meaning and has increased my respect for you as a human being, a writer, a teacher and friend. I look forward to reading Sleeper, Awake and The Ascending Spiral.

Good stories move you. Great stories stay with you and won't let you alone. Hit and Run will remain with you long after you close the back cover.

* * * *

YOU WIN whether you leave a comment or not! I'd still love a comment or two.

Contact Sandra Warren arliebooks@gmail.com or sandra@arliebooks.com https://www.arliebooks.com or http://www.sandrawarren.com

There really is nothing new under the sun!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Warren) — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 17:06:00 +0000

Congratulations to Carol Baldwin and Joan Edwards. They both won a copy of Obsessed By A Promise! by leaving a comment on my last blogpost!

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I have often heard the quote from Ecclesiastes 1:9, "There is nothing new under the sun," but never thought much about it until recently when one of my critique partners sent me a link to an article about a spider. Let me explain.

Years ago, I had an idea for a children's story about a very creative spider who is tired of spinning ho hum barn spider webs and wants to create her own more intricate designs. Mocked for her new designs, the spider would retreat to a window high in the barn loft where others couldn't see. It would take a family moving into the barn and one bright star shining through the new web, to make the others see that having different ideas can have surprising results.

I had never read a children's story about a spider besides E.B. White's, Charlotte's Web and thought there might be room for another spider book. When I shared my idea with other writers I received very mixed comments. Many folks liked the idea but a fare amount did not. One person even said, "Eww! Spiders are scary. Nobody likes spiders!" But my spider, Spivey, I called her, would have an important job to perform. She would spin a creative web that would calm a very special baby lying in a manger. Spivey's story would have a surprise Christmas story ending.

Spivey's Web, arrived on the market in 2017 and was retitled in 2020 as Spivey's Christmas Web. Just before Christmas, 2020, I received an article about author Raymond Arroyo and his new book, based on an ancient Eastern European legend, titled, The Spider Who Saved Christmas. Arroyo came across the legend while doing research for a middle-grade series. In his beautiful book, illustrated by Randy Gallegos, it's Nephila, a cave spider whose web saves the Christ child and his parents from Herod's men.

Another version of the legend tells the story of a pinecone that falls to the floor in a hut occupied by a poor widow and her children. The pinecone takes root and grows into a tree but at Christmas time, the widow couldn't afford to decorate it. While the family slept, spiders in the tree spun webs that sparkled in the morning sun, a gift for the widow and her brood. Since that time, throughout Eastern Europe, it has been the tradition to decorate Christmas trees with spiders. It is also believed that those spider webs are the reasons we decorate with tinsel to this day.

Who knew? I certainly did not. I thought my idea about a spider helping the Christ child was original, a figment of my creative mind. But you see, it wasn't.

There really is nothing new under the sun!

* * * * *

Leave a comment by February 5th and I'll put your name in to win a copy of Spivey's Christmas Web.

Check out the Spivey's Christmas Web book trailer here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWxu-vSpuRI

Contact Sandra Warren

https://www.arliebooks.com

http://www.sandrawarren.com

Firebird Book Award

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Warren) — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 16:05:00 +0000

I've never been big on contests but when one of my books comes up a winner, it's easy to change my tune.

Yesterday, I was notified that my historical fiction novel was awarded a FIRST PLACE in the HISTORICAL FICTION category for the SPEAK UP TALK RADIO FIREBIRD BOOK AWARDS. I entered the contest because the sponsors were sending all the proceeds to a worthy cause, a group that makes pillow cases for wounded veterans and their families. I always hoped my book, Obsessed By A Promise would be recognized but I never expected a First Place Award. I am thrilled, of course!

Obsessed By A Promise is different than the other Orphan Train stories in that it is told from the point of view of a family member not from the child taken; a big brother charged with taking care of his little brother and the life long fifty-year search that ensues when the older brother loses him to the Orphan Train movement. The story is about family and how it transforms when a child is lost.

If you enjoyed other Orphan Train stories, you need to check this one out and hopefully, like many other readers, you won't be able to put it down.

Here's how to win a copy of the awarding winning Obsessed By A Promise: Leave a comment by January 20th and I will award Two Lucky Readers an UNEDITED copy of Obsessed By A Promise, autographed if you like. A review on Amazon and/or Goodreads is always appreciated.

Obsessed By A Promise https://www.amazon.com/Obsessed-Promise-Sandra-Warren-ebook/dp/B07VV16ZC2/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Obsessed+By+A+Promise&qid=1610726107&sr=8-1

*******

Contact Sandra Warren: www.sandrawarren.com and/or www.arliebooks.com

Unexpected Writer Gifts From The Heart!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Warren) — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 10:00:00 +0000

As I reflect on this past year, as well as other years gone by, I'm reminded of the many people, known and unknown, who have stood by me and cheered with each new book and supported me in so many ways. Unexpected were the many gifts related to particular books I'd written, that came my way; many from complete strangers.

After writing Arlie the Alligator, my story-song picture book, alligators started to invade my house. Today, I have too many to count, from stuffed animals, necklaces, earrings, ceramic alligators, coffee mugs, alligator puzzles, a cement alligator for outside, two custom made alligator cookie cutters and even an alligator cookie jar, to name a few!

Christmas 2020 brought me a most unusual gift: an infinity scarf imprinted with the complete text, including song lyrics from the Arlie the Alligator mini-musical. Here is a photo of the infinity scarf and a close up of the story text with lyrics. A most wonderful gift.

After writing Spivey's Web, which became Spivey's Christmas Web, the story of a barn spider tired of spinning barn spider webs, who spins a web of her own design that creates stars that calm a tiny baby lying in a manger, I received a wonderful wire web to hang in my window as well as a spider mug that says, "Welcome to our web!"

Then there was the gentleman from Virginia, the husband of a caterer

catering a reception for the dedication of a historical marker that resulted from the book, We Bought A WWII Bomber, who hand hammered a WWII B-17 Bomber out of metal to make bomber cookies for the reception. Following the reception, he gifted me with the cookie cutter.

Several cherished gifts came from my wonderful critique group. In addition to helping me become a better writer, they've stood by me through thick and thin and were always there to offer honest and sometimes brutal advice that made each manuscript shine.

I'll never forget receiving the coffee mugs that make me laugh every time I use them. I particularly like the one that says, "My critique group understands me!" and "Writer: powered by chocolate!" Oh how well they know me. I'd be remiss to not mention the SCBWIC (Society of Children's Writers & Illustrators) hoodie or my latest writer gift that makes it all official..."I'm the Writer Elf!"

As wonderful as all these gifts are, nothing beats a letter, a drawing or a story from a child who really enjoyed Spivey's Christmas Web or Arlie the Alligator and were inspired to pen something of their own.

Hearing from a stranger, who took the time to write a review and said things about your adult historical fiction novel like, "It's one of the best novels I've ever

read!" or "I couldn't put it down," is perhaps the best gift of all and makes the long hours of frustration and enlightenment, creative inspiration and writer's block, emotional lows and highs that make up the writer's journey, worth every minute.

None of the above mentioned gifts were expected. Some arrived on gift giving days like a birthday or holiday but most arrived out-of-the-blue.

There's something funny, almost mystical about giving gifts to writers, at least in my experience, most arrived at the precise moment when I needed them most, when writer's block was at it's worst or when I couldn't figure out what to write next and the thought of giving up crept into my head. Writer gifts from the heart to the heart.

Thank you dear friends, critique partners, family and most of all readers for giving me the the kind words that keep me writing.

What kind of gifts have you been given to keep you going?

*********************

Books referred to in this blog:

Arlie the Alligator - PB/Kindle/ DVD & Audio Cassette

Spivey's Christmas Web

We Bought A WWII Bomber: The Untold Story of A Michigan High School, a B-17 Bomber & The

Blue Ridge Parkway

Obsessed By A Promise

Sandra Warren can be contacted through her website.

www.arliebooks.com
http://sandrawarrenwrites.blogspot.com

With A Little Help From My Writer Friends

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Warren) — Sun, 16 Aug 2020 21:56:00 +0000

Ask any writer how they developed their writing skills and you'll get a wide range of answers from degree programs to writer's conferences, workshops, webinars and books written on that very subject. Everyone's path is different and no one path is better than the next.

It's also safe to say that every writer develops their own circle of writer friends, those they admire and study and trust to give them the feedback they need to improve their skills. I have been extremely fortunate in the forty years since my first book came out, to have many writer friends along the way who have encouraged, inspired, taught and even critiqued my work, sometimes brutally, to make me a better writer. Because of my writer friends, my writing and story telling skills have significantly improved.

One of my favorite ways of learning has been to attend writing conferences; conferences that today have all been either shut down or forced to go digital. And although the quality of information being given won't suffer, I as a conference goer will miss the camaraderie of meeting and interacting with other writers more skilled than I.

But adapt we must and adapt we will.

Many opportunities are opening up that will allow us to learn from home in front of our own computers. One great opportunity is being offered by "Write 2 Ignite, a Christian writers group dedicated to helping writers provide excellent books for children and adults," as per Carol Baldwin's blog. Here is the information:

MASTER FICTION WRITING Taught by award winning author, Joyce Hostettler

Includes 3 talks by Joyce:

Creating Memorable Characters

On Writing Plot: What's The Problem

View Point and Dialogue

September 19th

9:00 am to 5:30 pm (recorded and password protected for 2 months)
$79

*****************

If you are unable to attend a workshop, webinar or conference, remember to tap into the knowledge of your writer friends. They will not only inspire and challenge you, they'll be there to pump you up when you need it most. Having said that, I need to give a shout out to my critique partners, Debbie, Teresa and Gretchen who have been the writing friends I've needed during the last decade of writing journey.

What part have your writing friends played in your writing journey?

******************

Contact Sandra Warren

www.arliebooks.com
http://sandrawarrenwrites.blogspot.com

Movies about Writers!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Warren) — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 19:43:00 +0000

I've noticed lately that many movies have been made with a writer as the main character or one of the main characters. Not only on the big screen but also television channels like Hallmark Movies tackle ways to involve book writers or song writers into their screenplays. What I didn't realize was how many movies have been made with a writer as a main character.

Google movies about writers and be prepared to view lists and lists; 10 of the Best Movies about writers, 20 of the best movies about writers, movies about real writers, movies about female writers, horror movies about writers, screenwriters, etc. There are even lists of movies that motivate writers and movies that teach writing. The lists go on and on. Who knew?

My interest in this topic came from watching Finding Forrester, a wonderful movie about an award winning one-book-wonder author who mentors a young black teen. Forrester, played by Sean Connery, is said to be loosely based on the life of J.D. Salinger. What stuck with me was a line from the movie that I shall never forget: "The first draft you write from the heart, you revise from the brain."

After reading the synopsis of multiple movies about writers, I've learned that many of them have tidbits of writing advice woven throughout their screenplays. What a great way to learn as you watch and listen, especially during these COVID 19 quarantine times.

I seem to naturally gravitate toward movies about writers, sometime knowingly and sometimes by accident. Either way it's always a pleasant surprise. Even so, I'm surprised that I've seen so few of the recommended films.

The list of movies I want to see has grown substantially since I began this post. It's been surprising to me that there are so many. But, rather than give you my choices for 'gotta-see' writers flicks, I'll challenge you to Google. "movies with writers" or "movies about writers," and make your own list.

What movie or movies about writers has inspired you? What tidbits about writing, if any, have you gleaned from watching a movie?

*****************

Sandra Warren has published products in multiple genres.

Contact her at:

www.arliebooks.com
http://sandrawarrenwrites.blogspot.com

Of Grief, Garlic & Gratitude - A Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Warren) — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 08:30:00 +0000

Rarely does a book come along that everyone, and I mean everyone, should read; a book that teaches us how to comfort those who have lost loved-ones, especially those who've lost children, and how to make it through each day if the family involved is yours.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Do you remember what you were doing on October 9, 2013? Probably not. It's a date that the Franceour family and their friends will never forget. The date is forever embedded in their minds and hearts as the day they received the terrible news, news no parent should ever receive, news that their charismatic, happy, friend-to-all-son Sam, passed away.

Of Grief, Garlic and Gratitude takes you on an unthinkable journey with Kris Franceour as she shares her day to day struggle to accept the fact that her fun-loving, caring, twenty-year old son is never coming home again. Through raw emotion and inspirational thoughts, Franceour reminds us that nothing compares to the death of a child and, even though love is everlasting, pain also follows for days, months and even years beyond the passing. The book ends with thoughtful suggestions for those who suffer a similar loss as well as those left to comfort the bereaved. There is much to learn from this brave and heart-wrenching story.

You may not think this book will have value for you. It's not a fun read, but it's an important read that is also inspirational. Years ago, within a two year period, my husband and I were friends with six families who lost children; five boys and one girl. Four months ago we learned of another. All were unexpected. All were devastating. I wish I had, had the suggestions listed at the end of, Of Grief, Garlic and Gratitude to know how to be a better positive source of comfort for each of those friends.

Of Grief, Garlic and Gratitude: Returning to Hope and Joy from a Shattered Life―Sam’s Love Story

_______________________

Contact Sandra Warren

www.arliebooks.com
http://sandrawarrenwrites.blogspot.com

FLY GIRLS MADE ME ANGRY!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Warren) — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 08:30:00 +0000

Never have I read a book that made me angrier than Fly Girls by P. O'Connell Pearson.

The story itself is the amazing true account of the 1102 women who became WWII WASPS (Women Air Force Service Pilots) risking their lives on a daily basis, flying planes their male counterparts wouldn't fly and accepting missions the men refused to take, with little thanks and support from from the male dominated Army Air Corps. They bought their own uniforms, paid for their own meals and housing, paid their own way back home after delivering their assigned bombers to bases all over the country and parts of Europe, all while keeping quiet about what they were doing so as to not undermine the egos of the military male pilots.

Whereas the men were trained and flew only one type of aircraft, the WASPS flew and were expected to fly all different types, sometimes on a moments notice, flying in a cockpit they'd never seen before with the directions in their laps. Some pulled targets behind their airplane so soldiers on the ground could practice with live ammunition hitting flying targets. And yes, several WASPS lost their lives to men who failed to hit the target and brought down the plane instead.

It would be 35 years before the WWII WASPS were granted full military status after years of battling the chauvinistic military establishment and Congress. Prior to the bill being passed, arguments were still brought forward claiming WASPS were not under military discipline when they flew. This was hogwash since all the WASPS received the same training as the U.S. Army Air Corps male pilots and all of their missions were ordered by the U.S. Army Air Corp.

This story is dear to my heart because a women who graduated from the high school I later attended, Jane Baessler Doyle, was a WASP. I had the privilege of meeting her prior to her passing, at 97-years of age. Up to that time, she was clear minded and youthful. You have only to Google her name to see and hear her story profiled on many television spots. My greatest regret is that I didn't interview her when I had the chance and offer to document her story.

If you have a relative or neighbor or church member who served in WWII, please sit down with them and record their stories. You don't have to write a book about them. Just record their stories and send them to the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress.

Hats off to ALL our service personal but especially the WWII WASPS who are still living.

To read more about these amazing women, check out the National WASP WWII Museum in Sweetwater, Texas. www.waspmuseum.org.

**********

Sandra Warren has written has written a WWII story about what children accomplished during that war; We Bought A WWII Bomber: The Untold Story of A Michigan High School, a B-17 Bomber & The Blue Ridge Parkway, as well as, two biographies of Army Reserve nurses who served in the Persian Gulf War; When Duty Called: Even Grandma Had To Go and Hidden Casualties: Battles On The Home Front.

www.arliebooks.com
http://sandrawarrenwrites.blogspot.com

www.arliebooks.com
http://sandrawarrenwrites.blogspot.com

FREEDOM ISN'T FREE!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Warren) — Fri, 22 May 2020 09:00:00 +0000

Memorial Day is just about here and I thought I would share a poem written by my brother, Don Dieleman, a Navy veteran. On this special day of remembrance, if you can't attend a service or parade, at least give thanks to those who have gone before us as well as the young men and women serving now to protect our freedom. In this day of isolation and the battle with COVID-19, the poem also seems relevant and applicable to those fighting this virus on the front lines.

FREEDOM ISN'T FREE (copyright, Don Dieleman, 2004)

Freedom isn't free
Look around and you will see
Some are crippled some are lame
With their stories to proclaim.

Some have scars you do not see
Cutting deep in memory
They gave their all for you and me
So that freedom we can see.

It's hard for young to comprehend
When family goes to war
But one day they will understand
What they went fighting for.

We enjoy so much of everything
In a land of liberty we sing
Help us Lord to always see
That lives were lost for you and me.

We seem very out of touch
With many places that have not much
Especially freedom that they seek
May we always freedom keep.

So pray that where our troops may go
To distant lands away from home
That they will always lead the way
To help spread freedom everyday. (Copyright, Don Dieleman, 2004)

When you see a man or woman in uniform or just wearing a military hat, thank them for their service and say a little prayer that the negative memories embedded during their service will diminish, give them peace and a sense of pride.

***********
I never served in the military but I had the privilege of writing two memoirs of Army Reserve nurses who served in the Persian Gulf War; then 2nd Lt. Dianah Kwiatkowski, When Duty Called: Even Grandma Had To Go, and Sgt. Sara Raye (pen name), Hidden Casualties: Battles On The Home Front, as well as the WWII story of home front America and what a group of children from one school accomplished, We Bought A WWII Bomber: The Untold Story of A Michigan High School, a B-17 Bomber & The Blue Ridge Parkway.

Please SHARE and leave a comment before May 30th and I'll put your name in to WIN the book of your choice from above.

************
Sandra Warren has published works in multiple genres. For SKYPE/ZOOM visits and/or CONTACT information see her website: www.arliebooks.com or www.sandrawarren.com

KEEP ME AT IT!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Warren) — Sat, 25 Apr 2020 17:33:00 +0000

"Keep me at it," is a mantra that applies to just about everything I start during this pandemic isolation. After over almost two months in quarantine, as I sit among boxes pulled out of my closet, I worry about my inability to stick with or to any one task. Like a humming bird flitting from flower to flower, I'm flitting from job to job. It seems to be my new normal as I struggle to adjust to these strange times.

Clear out and clean out is a worthy goal, but I'm finding it difficult to complete one task before starting another, consequently, there are boxes opened, some emptied, contents piled on tables in every room in the house. My office, a large second family room in our lower level, is almost impassable as I try to unload years of files filled with proof that being a wife and mother was just one of many hats I used to wear. Things on my computer aren't much better. Another distraction. Am I alone?

In one of the files I was emptying, I found a letter from Anne Cox, a long ago. acquaintance, that contained words of inspiration; words I needed to hear at that precise moment; words by Marjorie Holmes that inspired me and I hope may inspire you.

KEEP ME AT IT by Marjorie Holmes

God, give me due respect for the abilities you have given me.
Don't let me sell them short.
Don't let me cheapen them.
Don't let me bury my talents through indecision, cowardice or laziness.
Plant in me the necessary determination.
Keep me at it!
Rouse in me the fires of dedication.
Keep me at it!
Give me the energy, strength, and will power to bring your gifts to their proper fruition.
Keep me at it!
When I falter or fall, lift me up and set me back on my destined path.
Keep me at it!

KEEP ME AT IT, seems especially pertinent to those of us who write or illustrate; a profession with so much rejection. If we give up, so many stories and wonderful pieces of art will never be told or shared. So KEEP AT IT!

Look around you. Whatever you've started or haven't started but know you should, whether it's cleaning or sorting or writing or painting or exercising or cooking or resting, remember Marjorie Holmes's words of wisdom to KEEP ME AT IT! If you do that today, then I will too. Now, I'd better get hopping or I'll never be able to clear a path out of my office.

*************
Sandra Warren has published works in a variety of genres. She lives and writes in the NC mountains.

Contact Information:
www.sandrawarren.com

www.arliebooks.com
http://sandrawarrenwrites.blogspot.com

Consider the "What ifs?"

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Warren) — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 07:00:00 +0000

One of the things we're told to do when developing stories is to consider the "what ifs?" We look at an incident, behavior or personality of a character and think about changes that can move a story forward, add interest and an opportunity for character growth. Many times we don't want our characters to change, especially if that changed is forced upon us by an editor or critique from a writer we respect, and even when we know the change will improve our story, sometimes it's just hard to cast aside our original concept and respond to the "what ifs?"

The "what ifs," I'd like you to consider has nothing to do with the development of story but more about life itself. If we've learned anything from the pandemic we're all living through, it's that life is precious. With everything shut down, we've been given the gift of time to reflect and share with our spouses, children, family and friends in ways we've never done before. And all though we don't want to think about it, what happens if our family is hit with the virus and loses a loved one? And, what if that loved one is you?

What if it is you? Have you left clear instructions as to how to access your computer files, your works-in-progress, contact information for the important people in your career; agents, editors, publicist, lawyer, publishers? If published, does your spouse or loved one know which publishers to contact regarding royalties and for which books? Royalties don't stop when you're gone.

I could go on and on with more "what if" questions but I think the idea is clear. We all need to have a plan. We all need to prepare for the "what ifs!"

Have you ever considered this? Do you have a plan? I'd like to know.

***************
Sandra Warren is the author of books in multiple genres. Contact via her website listed below.

Obsessed By A Promise: A Childhood Promise! A Lost Brother! The Orphan Train! A life On Hold!

She Started It All - middle grade historical fiction of bomber story

We Bought a WWII Bomber: The Untold Story of a Michigan High School, a B-17 Bomber & The

Blue Ridge Parkway! Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUmxqhIpadI

Spivey's Web! Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wtJESsIxXE&feature=youtu.be

www.sandrawarren.com

www.arliebooks.com
http://sandrawarrenwrites.blogspot.com

Pandemic: A Time to Pull Back, Reflect & Write!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Warren) — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 08:00:00 +0000

Who among us could have ever imagined a time when everything, and I mean everything would shut down; churches, schools, movie theaters, Broadway shows, sports events and restaurants, and live television shows where the announcers and commentators are broadcasting from home? Where folks over 60 are told to stay home to stay safe? Where those that have to be out and about are told to stay six feet apart, bump elbows instead of shaking hands and absolutely no hugs? It sounds like a movie script about the future; fictitious words no one would believe. And yet, here we are in the middle of a World Wide Pandemic!

Writing, for those of us who love to create stories, will be the escape we so desperately need in these challenging times. Intellectually, we all know that what makes a story great are the trials and tribulations our characters face and overcome. That's where our characters change and grow, hopefully for the better.

Life has given us all the opportunity to model those positive changes in our own lives. We need to record and remember that the emotions we're feeling, the highs and the lows, the fears and bright spots along the way, words of encouragement and words that depress, can all be applied to the characters in our current works in progress, or in characters in stories to come.

Positive, extraordinary things can emerge from the most horrendous experiences.

Write on, writer friends. Write on!

Unearthing & Celebrating History

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Warren) — Tue, 31 Dec 2019 16:18:00 +0000

I hated taking History in school. I don't know why--well, maybe I do. Events, dates, causes and consequences didn't interest me. For the most part, I couldn't relate. Too many things were going on in my teenage life. I didn't care about what happened years ago even if, as my teachers tried to explain, the past allowed me to have the freedoms I take for granted.

Today, we live in an era of technology where the Internet has given us access to information through videos, documentaries, nonfiction as well as narrative non-fiction, podcasts and blogs, Internet radio and even "Alexa" where you only have to ask "Alexa" to get the answers to most anything. The way History is taught no longer needs to be boring.

Whether or not a student clicks in will depend, I believe, on their sense of curiosity and timing; curiosity to begin to explore a topic in new and different ways or appreciate those that do and did, and timing that connects them to some part of the story. If I had heard about the Orphan Trains as a teen, I'm not sure I would have been as horrified with the process as I was years later as a Mother of three. The story certainly wouldn't have resonated with me in the same way.

In the early 1990's, while working for an educational publisher, I came across a little book called The Orphan Trains. Intrigued, I sat down and read it cover to cover. For days, weeks, no months, I couldn't get the information I had read out of my mind. I kept thinking of the "what ifs?" My father had passed away when I was six and we were quite poor. What if my mother hadn't been able to care for me and my brother? Would she have been forced to give us away? Could that have been us? What if my brother and I had been separated? What would my life or his have become? Slowly but surely, through all the thinking and imagining and researching, a story emerged; a story that would evolve over the next twenty-plus years before culminating in a book.

First titled, My Brother's Keeper, and then, They Called Me Blue, Obsessed By A Promise follows the lives of two brothers separated in the Spring of 1929. The youngest is taken and eventually sent out west on the Orphan Train to a new family while the oldest is frantically searching for him. Devastated by the loss of his little brother, the elder dedicates the next fifty years of his life to the search.

Strangely, history also played a major role in one of my other books. We Bought A WWII Bomber centered on a historical accomplishment of students during World War Two. Doing research for that book unearthed a seventy-year old mystery, made history in a small town that had forgotten the important event, and resulted in the placement of two historical markers in two different States.

Experiences writing these two books have taught me to pay attention to the world around me. What is current today may be significant history tomorrow. Had you told me back when I was in school that history would become an important part of my future as a writer, I wouldn't have believed you. I hated History classes in school so it's very strange to me that I enjoy writing about it today.

*******
To celebrate the NEW YEAR, I'm giving away an autographed copy of either We Bought A WWII Bomber, or Obsessed By A Promise. Leave a comment by January 5, 2020 and one winner will be able to choose their book of choice.

www.sandrawarren.com

Old Books Keep Coming Back!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Warren) — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 21:48:00 +0000

The other day an author friend of mine said to me, "Once you publish a book, it's always with you. You never know when it will unexpectedly pop-up again." The comment was prompted by unexpected orders that arrived out-of-the-blue for the purchase of several of her books that hadn't sold a copy in months.

Her comment made me laugh because last November, I received a call regarding my children's mini-musical story book, CD and DVD package, Arlie the Alligator, asking about purchasing multiple copies for an alligator preserve's gift shop. I was thrilled, of course, and somewhat amazed. Although Arlie the Alligator has received modest success over the years, I never expected a bulk order at this time.

The original Arlie the Alligator came out in the early 1990's as a hard back book and audio cassette package. Then, in 2000 a CD replaced the audio cassette. The book was brought out in paperback with updated illustrations in 2013, and in 2014, a DVD was produced. By traditional publishing standards, Arlie the Alligator would have been relegated to the cancellation pile, but because it was independently published, it has remained on the market selling one book, CD or DVD now and again. So, you can imagine my surprise and delight when I received the request for a bulk order. Amazingly, thirty-eight years after it first hit the market, Arlie the Alligator has been given a new chance to continue delighting children in story and song, in a Texas gift shop.

This happened with two other books of mine, also. In 2016, publisher Royal Fireworks Press, re-illustrated and republished, If I Were A Table and Reflections On Being Gifted, a title change for a book originally called, Being Gifted: Because You're Special From The Rest. Both of these updates and returns to market were surprises to me since both books had original publishing dates on them of 1981 and 1986.

You never know when you put your heart and soul into a book or an idea if it will find an audience and have a lasting impact.

It's like my friend said, ". . . You never know when [a book you authored] will unexpectedly pop-up again."

Sometimes books are like volunteer flowers in the garden that surprise you in the Spring. They pop up to delight when you least expect them.

Has interest in any of your books popped up again after many years?

Leave a comment by October 10th and Sandra will gift one lucky winner with a copy of Arlie the Alligator.

* * * *
Sandra Warren is the author of books in several genres.

Contact her at:

www.sandrawarren.com

www.arliebooks.com
http://sandrawarrenwrites.blogspot.com

http://twitter.com/SandraWarrenNC

https://www.instagram.com/sandrawarren_author/

Sharing Your Secrets In Presentations

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Warren) — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 09:30:00 +0000

While planning a weekend presentation, it occurred to me that my audience might like to hear more than a synopsis or a reading of the book. I know I do when I attend an author event. Don't read me a page from your book. I can do that myself, later. Tell me something not in the book, something I learned from being at your presentation.

Things like: Where the idea came from and what inspired you to pursue it? How long it took to write? Did you have to do research? Are the characters based on someone you know? What was the hardest part of the story to write? How many times did you rewrite it? Where did the title come from? Sprinkle in your personal writing experience too; Is this your first book? Did you always want to write? Who is your favorite author? Who is your biggest supporter? Where do your other ideas come from? Do you have a critique group? And so on and so on.

This weekend I will be speaking to group of adults and young adults at a local library about my newest work of historical fiction, She Started It All. But rather than talk about the story as written, I am sharing my secrets about how I turned a nonfiction story into the historical fiction they came to hear about. As interesting as I think the story itself is, I believe it's more interesting to share how I determined what facts from the nonfiction needed to be in the historical fiction. What pitfalls I faced? If I use real character names? Why or why not? Stuff like that. In my humble opinion, this will be much more interesting than merely telling the story.

The flyer for my presentation reads like this: From A Bomber Story to She Started It All: Creating Historical Fiction From Nonfiction.

If you're out and about near Morganton, North Carolina around 2:00 pm on Saturday the 9th, stop by and critique my presentation. I'd love to see you!

************

Author of Arlie the Alligator and other books for children and adults!
www.arliebooks.com
http://sandrawarrenwrites.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/SandraWarrenNC
https://www.instagram.com/sandrawarren_author/
https://www.facebook.com/SWarren.Author

SURPRISE GIFTS FROM THE HEART!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Warren) — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 23:54:00 +0000

Throughout my journey as an author I've learned to accept the ups and downs of the profession. I know that everyone won't love my work or "get it," whatever the "it" is built into the particular story they've just read. I expected to get reviews and prayed they'd be good ones. I've come to realize that my readers, children especially, think it's pretty special to meet me. What I never expected were what I call, gifts of the heart, that I've been blessed to receive from my readers.

It all started years ago with my Arlie the Alligator: Story-Song Picture Book. Although designed for primary children, preschoolers caught on to the catchy tunes and insisted on playing the audio tape and then CD, over and over again. They loved to BELLOW with Arlie, much to their parents dismay. One three year old boy named Bryan, insisted that his mom buy Arlie's Mom, he called me that, an alligator necklace that he saw in a store. It was totally unexpected and I cherish it to this day.

Other alligators followed. I've received stuffed alligators, and wooden ones, puzzle alligators and ones made out of metal. Here are two more clever fellows that look just like Arlie. Inside their mouths sits a tiny bird. I named the bird, Odetta, and plan another Arlie adventure based on her. They were given to me by a friend who saw them in a jewelry display and had to buy them for me. I wear them when I do school visits.

Although my new book, Spivey's Web, is less than a year old, I've already received related gifts. One friend saw this cute mug and said she just had to get it for me. Another gifted me with this unique spider's web that I have hanging in my office window.

With my We Bought A WWII Bomber book, I've received several unique gifts. One, a ring made by a school boy in 1943 out of a part of the bomber from the story. After wearing it for a couple of years and fearing I would lose such a treasure, I donated it to the Patrick County Historical Society from the county where the bomber crashed. They will preserve and keep it safe museum.

An exact replica of the B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber was also gifted to me complete with the correct tail numbers #229577 and the name given to the bomber by the students who raised the money to purchase it, The Spirit of South High, Grand Rapids, Michigan, painted on the fuselage.

A real surprise gift came in the mail a few days ago from the caterer of the reception that followed the Dedication of the Wayside Historical Marker placed on The Blue Ridge Parkway, October 1st. For the reception, the caterer's husband made a B-17 bomber cookie cutter so she could make gingerbread bomber cookies. Two days ago a box arrived with a bomber cookie cutter inside. I am thrilled! What a wonderful surprise! It arrived in time for me to make bomber cookies for the November 20th Book Launch of She Started It All, the middle grade historical fiction version of the bomber story.

And last but not least, I can't forget to mention the wonderful cape made for me by the daughter of one of the gentlemen from Meadows of Dan, Virginia, who came forward to show me the spot where the B-17 bomber, The Spirit of South High, crashed. He was an 11-year old boy at the time, heard the crash and went running to the site. Unfortunately, he passed away a few months ago and wasn't able to witness the dedication of the marker. Linda Fain surprised me with this beautiful fleece cape.

All of these were SURPRISE GIFTS FROM THE HEARTS of my readers. Each and every one was totally unexpected.

Have you received GIFTS FROM THE HEART? I'd like to hear about them.

******************

www.arliebooks.com
http://sandrawarrenwrites.blogspot.com

Available: https://www.amazon.com/Bought-WWII-Bomber-Sandra-Warren-ebook/dp/B014JYB542/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1538480158&sr=8-1&keywords=we+bought+a+world+war+ii+bomber

UNEXPECTED

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra Warren) — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 08:30:00 +0000

When an author's book finally hits the market they hold their breath hoping that the reviews will be glowing and sales will be swift. They have expectations that their baby in print will delight and inspire and captivate readers. What no author can prepare for is the unexpected.

In 2015, I was privileged to write a nonfiction book about an incident that occurred in my high school during WWII. It involved a funding program that put a tangible face on money Americans spent on United States War Bonds and War Loan Stamps. The largest of these programs was called the "Buy A Bomber" or "Bonds for Bombers" campaign. Students in my school, South High School from Grand Rapids, Michigan initiated War Bond sales totaling $375,000, earning the right to name a a small Pursuit Fighter and a B-17 Flying Fortress. They named them both "The Spirit of South High School. War Bond sales paid for 57% of the cost of WWII, after taxes.

My purpose in writing the story was solely to tell the alumni from the school, what happened to their bomber. For 71-years they had no idea. One of my classmates, Joe Rogers, found it on a crash report that said it came down stateside in a small mountain Virginia town located on The Blue Ridge Parkway.

Monday, October 1, 2018, a Wayside Historical Marker was dedicated on The Blue Ridge Parkway at Mabry's Mill, near the sight where that bomber crashed.
Approximately 150 folks attended including 15+ alumni from that high school in Michigan. Media from three television stations attended as well as newspaper reporters. Those attending enjoyed a reception at the Meadows of Dan Community Center courtesy of the Patrick County Historical Society and the VFW Organization.

I was overwhelmed to say the least.

One of the reporters asked me what I hoped students and adults will get out of seeing and reading the marker. Here's what I said: "I hope folks will be reminded and impressed with the importance of Americans working together for our country. WWII was a time when patriotism was the norm and permeated our great country. If ever we needed that kind of patriotism, it's now. I also hope students see that they can achieve great things and make a difference. I pray readers will catch the "Spirit of South High School" exhibited there.

The marker is beautiful! If you're ever on The Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia, Milepost 176.2, at Mabry's Mill, stop by and see it and know that wonderful and unexpected things can happen when your book comes out.

Here is the link to one of the broadcasts:

https://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/Historical-marker-memorializes-WWII-plane-crash-in-Patrick-County-494848691.html

Enjoy!
***********

Nonfiction:

We Bought a WWII Bomber: The Untold Story of a Michigan High School, a B-17 Bomber & The Blue Ridge Parkway!

2017 State History Award: Private Printing Category, Michigan Historical Society

2016 Next Generation Indie Book Award Finalist

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUmxqhIpadI

Middle Grade Historical Fiction version:

SHE STARTED IT ALL!

available

https://www.amazon.com/She-Started-All-Sandra-Warren-ebook/dp/B07GYLSL3F/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1538480233&sr=8-1&keywords=she+started+it+all

www.arliebooks.com
http://sandrawarrenwrites.blogspot.com