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Wednesday, June 4, 2014

#ISWG - Good Times and Bad



It’s the first Wednesday of the month and time for the Insecure Writers Group. The purpose is to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! A big THANKS to Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh for starting this group and keeping it going. And to this month's awesome hosts C. Lee McKenzie, Tracy Jo, Melanie Schulz, and LG Keltner!

There are days when everything goes wrong, when nothing we do is right. Then there are the days when the writing flows, when we receive good news—an acceptance letter from the agent we always wanted or the editor who loves our work or someone other than our mother thinks our story is fabulous. Hopefully, the good happens more often than the bad.

This has been a mixed month for me. More good than not. I released The Chameleon, my newest science fiction romance. Sales are good, for which I am very grateful. I finished the first book in a new private eye mystery and sent it out for editing. And I already have a cover for it (thanks to Rebel Ink Designs).

I mentioned a mixed month. I'm slowly recovering from the pulmonary embolisms, much slower than I thought I would. The lungs don't bounce back that easily. I finally had a skin test to tell me what I was allergic to that sent me into an anaphylactic reaction, but I'm still no wiser. Birch trees? C'mon. I lived next to one for 14 years. Hazelnuts? Love them. I eat tree nuts (and peanut butter) all the time. I started another sci-fi romance and I feel like I'm slogging through a swamp. So slow. The worst part is I know where this story is supposed to go. And the "d" key sticks on my laptop. Do you know how frustrating that is? Look at all the d's in this post. LOL

Back to the good part. My son is getting married. And to the young woman I've been hoping for over two years would be my daughter-in-law. Despite the fact that they live in Arizona, the wedding will be here in Michigan, on a Lake Michigan beach. I couldn't be more pleased.

So if I have any advice this month, it's to enjoy, revel in the good times. Put up with the not so good. Find good things to celebrate.

Here's a little about The Chameleon.

Legally Blond meets Mata Hari

Socialite Jileena Winslott has perfected the image of the spoiled, rich, bubble-headed daughter of an industrial magnate. In reality, she’s a smart, savvy aide to her father in social situations where she is his eyes and ears. She yearns to be her true self and run the family business. When her father sends her on a covert mission to the Outer Rim, she has the chance to prove herself. Big problem. He insists she take along a fake fiancĂ©—the man she’s secretly loved for years.

Security Officer Laning Servary has better things to do than babysit a spoiled rich girl on a tour of the Frontier. If he refuses, he can kiss his career good-by. Then Jileena’s father sweetens the pot. If Laning keeps her safe, his family will receive the land they share-crop. He can’t refuse.

In the close quarters of her ship, Laning and Jileena discover they aren’t who they seem. Pirates, weather, and her recklessness threaten to derail the mission. As Laning and Jileena revise their impressions of each other, they’ll have to make hard choices about their goals. Can their budding love survive?

The Chameleon is available at:


Click here to find others on the Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop. Or go to IWSG on Facebook to see who’s blogging today.

42 comments:

  1. Congrats on the release of Chameleon, Diane, and your son's coming marriage. I hope your health continues improving. Sometimes it's easy to let the bad overshadow the good in our life. Thanks for some much needed inspiration this morning.

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    1. You are most welcome. Thanks for your concern.

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  2. Congrats on the new book, and your engaged son. Both great things.

    We all have some time of suffering, I guess that's normal. Lol

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  3. Ups and downs. We're all a little crazy for putting ourselves through this roller coaster!

    And congrats to your son!!!!

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  4. Good to know you're recovering. That's good news. Take care!

    And congrats to your son and your new book!

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  5. I'm glad you're feeling better. Wish you'd mend sooner. but a PE is not a small thing! Give yourself some room to be human!

    Love the premise for The Chameleon. I'll have to add that to my summer TBR. Congrats and best of luck!
    IWSG #215 until Alex culls the list again.

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    1. Thanks, Melissa. I want to think I'm still 20 and can heal fast. LOL I hope you enjoy The Chameleon.

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  6. Your advice, in some ways, seems to be patience. Some things take a while. Congrats to you, your son, and his future bride. What a lovely time to celebrate!
    Play off the Page

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    1. Thanks, Mary. Hubs & I are so excited (okay, mainly me) that he finally asked her. It is a great time.

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  7. Great IWSG post...and congrats on getting the new book out! Finding time to write is the hardest part for me. Having moved to the middle of the Andes Mountains in Ecuador, there is so much stuff to enjoy! LOL!

    Congrats on the new daughter-in-law, too!

    D.B. McNicol
    Romance & Mystery...writing my life

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    1. Enjoy the mountains. I probably wouldn't write either if I had so much to enjoy. :)

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  8. I hope your health keeps improving. Good and bad is always the balance, right? Congrats to your son and your new book! :D

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  9. I am so glad your health is improving, I hope it continues to do so. My allergies have been increasing over the last two years to the point of not wanting to eat anything out of my house. Scary!
    Last year and the beginning of this year went very wrong for me. I am so relieved that things are starting to look up.
    Congratulations on your release!! Congratulations on your son's engagement, it sounds like the wedding will be lovely!!

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    1. Thanks so much, Doreen. Your concern is touching. I'm sure the wedding will be lovely. :)

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  10. Congrats on your achievements! Take care with your health.

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  11. Congratulations to your son!
    Tough when they aren't sure what you are allergic to. Hope this month is all good.

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    1. Thanks, Alex. It's wonderful when our children find that "one true love."

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  12. My sister-in-law is allergic to birch trees. We found that out when we took her hiking one summer and she broke out in hives upon contact.

    Excellent advice to focus on the good things and times. I try to do that, but some times I'm more successful than others.

    Congrats on your recent release!

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  13. Thanks for the reminder and some much needed inspiration, Diane. Congratulations on the release of Chameleon as well as on your son's wedding. The bad only makes the good all that more poignant.

    Wishing you a full recovery and great success!

    VR Barkowski

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  14. I hope that your health continues to improve until you are fully recovered!
    Congrats on the new book and your son's engagement!
    Sticky keys? My "F" key sticks. (It's already faded from the constant pounding...)
    Writer In Transit

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    1. Thanks, Michelle. I discovered that a visit to the Geek Squad and a can of compressed air works wonders. I should have just gotten the can and saved time. LOL

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  15. I've had a good month,So no complaints here. Feel better soon :-)

    Anna from Shout with Emaginette

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  16. Lungs are very important though.

    Congrats on the new book. Science fiction love story you say?

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    1. Yeah, lungs are kind of important, aren't they? I love reading sci-fi romance. Guess that's why I write it. :)

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  17. My mom had severe anaphylactic reactions several times that almost killed her. It took a couple years for them to figure it out it had nothing to do with the allergy tests and was, in fact, the pesticides they were spraying on the nearby scrub in spring. Not much she can do about that, but at least she knows now. I hope you get answers.

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  18. take it easy, what you went through is no easy ride!! congrats on the books, both the recent release and the upcoming one! :-)

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    1. Thanks, E.E. I have to learn to be more patient.

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  19. I love the blurb on The Chameleon, Diane. Sounds great!
    Yes, you have the best advice - revel in the good times and put up with the rest. I'm working on it... :)

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    1. Thanks, River. Glad you liked my advice. Now I just have to follow it myself. :)

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  20. Congrats on the new book and upcoming wedding. Which Michigan Lake will the wedding be at? (I'm on Superior in Da UP.)

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    1. Thanks, Patricia. My son went to Northern. He loved the UP. He's getting married on Lake Michigan near Holland.

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  21. Aww blogger ate my comment.
    It was something to the effect of, congratulations on the good news, best of luck for improvement on the not so good! Be kind to yourself :)

    AJ @ Naturally Sweet
    @ayjaylauer

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  22. Thanks, AJ. Both Blogger and Wordpress were eating my comments yesterday. So frustrating. Thanks for trying again.

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