#IWSG:: Favorite Genre #sfr

Happy Insecure Writers Support Group Day. IWSG is the brainchild of Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Purpose: 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! Thanks, Alex, for starting this group and keeping it going. 

I'm thrilled to join this month's awesome hosts: Kim Lajevardi, Sylvia Ney, Sarah Foster, Jennifer Hawes, and Madeline Mora-Summonte!

This month's optional question is one I'm happy to answer.

Of all the genres you read and write, which is your favorite to write in and why?

Science Fiction Romance. My first published novel was a sci-fi romance. After being rejected so many times for contemporary romances, I decided to write for fun and, amazingly, Switched was accepted by a niche publisher.

I read and write science fiction because it reinforces my belief in a future. That other sentients live in our universe. That faster-than-light (FTL) speed is/will be possible. That we (humans) will explore other planets, either by traveling through wormholes or developing engines with warp or FTL drive.

Relationships are important to stories. Without characters, the stories would be dry scientific texts. Characters who work together make the story more interesting. Even better, characters who fall in love reinforce my belief that happy ever after is possible. It's a belief in the future of humankind. 

Combining science fiction with a strong relationship (romance) is my favorite genre to write--both for adults and for middle school age children.

When wise-cracking Jessie Wyndom is beamed from her farmhouse in Ann Arbor, MI aboard an Alliance starship, she meets a regular Mr. Spock. Captain Marcus Viator's well-organized life is turned upside down by a free-spirited Terran. Fate brings them together. Treachery tears them apart.

Amazon ~ Amazon UK ~ B&N ~ Kobo ~ iTunes ~ Smashwords

Her father is gone! Taken by the Queen of Compara’s agents. Fifteen-year-old Mara has to rescue him before the Queen tortures and kills him.

Instead of the kind, loving father she’s always known, he’s become demanding, critical, with impossible expectations—not just as Father but also as the only teacher in their frontier outpost. Mara would rather scoop zircan poop than listen to another boring lecture about governments on Central Planets. Give her a starship engine to take apart or, better yet, fly, and she’s happy. Now, he’s gone.

Never mind, they’ve had a rocky road lately.

Never mind, Father promised she could go off planet to Tech Institute next month when she turns fifteen, where she’ll learn to fly starships.

Never mind, she ran away because she’s furious with him because he reneged on that promise. Father is her only parent. She has to save him.

Ebooks:  Amazon ~ Amazon UK ~ Kobo ~ B&N ~ Smashwords

Print:  Amazon

Check out the latest anthology contest.

Guidelines and rules: 
Word count: 3500-5000
Genre: Middle Grade Historical – Adventure/Fantasy
Theme: Voyagers
Submissions accepted: May 1 - September 4, 2019
How to enter: Send your polished, formatted (double-spaced, no footers or headers), previously unpublished story to admin @insecurewriterssupportgroup.com before the deadline passes. Please include your contact details, your social links, and if you are part of the Blogging, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter IWSG group. 

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.

#IWSG: Achieving Goals

Happy Insecure Writers Support Group Day. IWSG is the brainchild of Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Purpose: 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! Thanks, Alex, for starting this group and keeping it going. 

Thanks to this month's awesome hosts:  Raimey Gallant, Natalie Aguirre, CV Grehan, and Michelle Wallace!

Last month, I talked about goal setting. I'm happy to report I accomplished two small goals leading to one big one. I prepared my Middle Grade science fiction adventure story for my editor and sent it off to her. The second goal was contracting for the cover. Here it is:

Blurb:

Her father is gone! Taken by the Queen of Compara’s agents. Mara has to rescue him before the Queen tortures and kills him.

Instead of the kind, loving father she’s always known, he’s become demanding, critical, with impossible expectations—not just as Father but also as the only teacher in their frontier outpost. Mara would rather scoop zircan poop than listen to another boring lecture about governments on Central Planets. Give her a starship engine to take apart or, better yet, fly, and she’s happy. Now, he's gone.

Never mind, they’ve had a rocky road lately. 

Never mind, Father promised she could go off planet to Tech Institute next month when she turns fifteen, where she’ll learn to fly starships.

Never mind, she ran away because she’s furious with him because he reneged on that promise. Father is her only parent. She has to save him.

Along with her best friend, eleven-year-old Jako, and his brother 15-year-old Lukus, Mara sets off to find her father. An old spaceport mechanic and her mentor seems to know why the Queen captured Father. In fact, he seems to know her father well. But, does he tell her everything? Of course not. He dribbles out info like a mush-eating baby. Worse, he indicates he’ll be leaving then soon. And Lukus can’t wait to get off our planet. Mara’s afraid they will all leave her, and she’ll be on her own. Despite her fears, she has to rescue her father.

Optional question: Besides writing what other creative outlets do you have?

Many of my creative outlets have dropped by the wayside as writing has taken over. For years, I did needlework--counted cross-stitch, needlepoint, candlewick, embroidery, and quilting. Photography has stuck around. I use pictures to record our vacations and our family. Hubs and I both have good cameras, those that take film and digital ones. He could start a museum with his cameras. 😊

So what camera do we use the most? The one on our phones. Currently, we're on vacation on the gulf coast. Our son "ordered" us to send pictures. He's going to regret that. LOL I set up an iCloud album, invited our immediate family and have been sending pictures each day. That will teach him!

The ease with which we can take pictures makes it so handy. So, I think that's one creative outlet that won't drop away.

A while ago, I shared the contest for the next IWSG anthology! Here's the cover!

Masquerade: Oddly Suited…

Masquerade: Oddly Suited
An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology
Release date – April 30, 2019
Young Adult Fiction: Romance - General/Paranormal/Contemporary
Print ISBN 9781939844644
EBook ISBN 9781939844651

Find love at the ball…

Can a fake dating game show lead to love? Will a missing key free a clock-bound prince? Can a softball pitcher and a baseball catcher work together? Is there a vampire living in Paradise, Newfoundland? What’s more important—a virtual Traveler or a virtual date to the ball? 

Ten authors explore young love in all its facets, from heartbreak to budding passion. Featuring the talents of L.G. Keltner, Jennifer Lane, C.D. Gallant-King, Elizabeth Mueller, Angela Brown, Myles Christensen, Deborah Solice, Carrie-Anne Brownian, Anstice Brown, and Chelsea Marie Ballard. 

Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these ten tales will mystify and surprise even as they touch your heart. Don your mask and join the party…

Congratulations to all the winners. Happy Writing. See you next month.

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.

#IWSG: September

Happy Insecure Writers Support Group Day. IWSG is the brainchild of Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Purpose: 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! Thanks, Alex, for starting this group and keeping it going. 

Thanks to this month's awesome hosts:  Toi Thomas, T. Powell Coltrin, M.J. Fifield, and Tara Tyler!

Like most months, this past month has been one of highs and lows. 

The Highs:

• 3 local book events--sold more books than at any other event
• print version of NUMBERS NEVER LIE is now for sale
• wrote 1k-word flash fiction for WEP (fun!)
• got the rights back for ONE RED SHOE
• celebrated grand-nephew's 1st birthday on Labor Day (so much fun)

The Lows:

• flooded basement--sump pump quit while we were away over the weekend to the 1st birthday celebration
• purging papers and other things that got wet (maybe purging isn't that bad)
• ripping up 4-yr-old carpet (groan)
• restoration costs--$$$

The Best:

• wrote 17,000 words on THE SPY, An Outer Rim Novel
• the Highs outnumbering the Lows

September's optional question - What publishing path are you considering/did you take, and why?

I've been published by two small presses and self-published. I choose self-publishing. I like the control. Yes, it costs money upfront (professional editing and cover design), but I control the cover, the price, and the distribution. I can do sales when I want. With the small presses, I did 99% of the advertising. As an indie, I do all the promotion. From my second publisher, I received 35% of the price of the digital copies and 7% of the print. I'd rather receive 65-70% (digital) and 40% (print). Distribution to bookstores is limited for both small presses and self-publishing. By doing the legwork, I'm getting my self-published books into more libraries and brick-and-mortar bookstores.

Would I earn more money with a big press? Absolutely. With the small presses, no. This is my career. I love to write, but my goal has always been to earn money. With self-publishing, I am achieving that.

Check out the new anthology contest:

IWSG Anthology

The 2018 Annual IWSG Anthology Contest

Word count: 3500-6000

Genre: Young Adult Romance

 Theme:

Masquerade

A Masquerade can be a false show or pretense, someone pretending to be someone they aren't. It can be a ball, a fancy dress party, it can be a mask. Open to interpretation.

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.