#IWSG: The Future and The Past

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. We are rockin' the neurotic writing world!

The awesome co-hosts for the July 1 posting of the IWSG are Jenni Enzor, Beth Camp, Liesbet @ Roaming About, Tyrean Martinson, and Sandra Cox! Be sure to visit these fabulous volunteers.

Each month we have an optional question. Here's July's: there have been many industry changes in the last decade, so what are some changes you would like to see happen in the next decade?

I wish I knew. That's why I'm really interested to read what others say. I'm excited by the changes in the past decade. Changes that allow me to publish my stories on my own. I dipped my toe into self-publishing in 2011. I'd gotten the rights back to my first published book. A friend pointed out it wasn't doing anything, so why not self-publish it. Why not, indeed? I was scared to death that I'd do something wrong. It seemed to take me all day to publish Switched on Smashwords. The next day, I figured out Kindle, and--bam--it was published on Amazon. Okay, not quite that quickly. Since then, I've published 14 more books. 

Would I have imagined this in 2010? Nope. My imagination never dreamed what I could do. My imagination still hasn't dreamed up what will happen in this next decade. I live day-to-day, month-to-month, and maybe imagine 6 months ahead.

One of the advantages of self-publishing is I can change the price of my books any time. I'm participating in N.N. Light's Christmas in July event. So, for the month of July, my holiday romance (with a hint of mystery) Romance Rekindled is only 99 cents. Amazon  http://a.co/jlmHYD2  Amazon UK  http://amzn.eu/12TqpEM 

What am I working on? My current wip, The Spy, an Outer Rim Novel, is coming along. I know, I've written about it before. I'm slowly getting more written/revised. Meantime, I have three more projects I can't wait to get back to: the 4th book in my Alex O'Hara mystery series plus 2 spinoff novellas.

On the personal front, even though Michigan has eased some of the restrictions (I got a haircut!!!), Hubs and I are still following the COVID safety procedures --wearing a mask outside the house and keeping social distances. I still order my groceries online and pick them up curbside. We get takeout, but don't eat at restaurants. Although we've seen the grandkids (and our kids), we don't hug. We're all trying to stay safe. I hope the resurgence of COVID cases isn't affecting you or your families. 

Stay safe, everyone, and have a good 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: March - Traditions

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. We are rockin' the neurotic writing world!

A huge thank you to the awesome co-hosts for this month: Jacqui Murray, Lisa Buie-Collard, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and Shannon Lawrence!

I started off February on a roll. In 2 weeks, I wrote over 12,000 words. Then, I broke my foot. The obvious question is how? I stepped wrong, I guess. You would think since I have to be off my foot I'd be writing up a storm. Hah! I wrote 600 words since then. So, I need to get my mojo back. Hopefully, next month I can say I finished the darn book. 

This month's optional question: Other than the obvious holiday traditions, have you ever included any personal or family traditions/customs in your stories?

Christmas is a time of many traditions—old and new, especially when new members are added to the family. Our daughter combined our traditions with her husband’s, same with our son. One thing hasn’t changed is the Christmas tree.

In my book, Romance Rekindled, I used what is our holiday tradition in this excerpt where Sam sees Flo’s (Abby’s mother) house. Bethany is Abby’s daughter. Sam is George’s son.

Sam had only been in this house once, shortly after he arrived in west Michigan. The living room was tastefully decorated for the holidays. The tree in front of the window had to be ten feet tall. With its twelve-foot ceiling, the room would have dwarfed a smaller tree. Intrigued by what looked like a mishmash of ornaments, he walked closer to examine them.

“I made that decoration when I was in kindergarten.” Bethany had come up behind him and pointed to what looked like a butterfly made of wallpaper and a hairclip. “Mom made that one in preschool. And Gram made this one in grade school.”

The last two ornaments, a Shrinky Dink star—Sam remembered making those—and a pinecone with glued glitter were amateurish and charming. Nadine would’ve disdained them, opting for matching ornaments, ribbons, and lights. Not this record of children’s growth. His mother would have approved, though.

“Mom and I helped Gram decorate. She won’t let Gram get up on a ladder.”

“Good thing,” George said. He, too, had come over to admire the tree. “Can’t have my sweetie falling.”

“Oh, you.” Flo swiped her hand against his arm in a playful, yet intimate, gesture. “I love my tree. So many wonderful memories.”

That’s how I feel about our tree—so many memories. As our kids married, I passed many of their handmade ornaments to them for their trees.

Abby Ten Eyck likes her life the way it is. She runs a successful business, has a well-adjusted teenage daughter, and has managed to keep men at bay since her divorce fifteen years ago. Just before Christmas, she’s hit with change. Her mother decides to sell the family home. Then she’s arrested, with an unknown man. Could this new man in her mother’s life create more upheaval? Or could his handsome son be just what Abby needs to revive her dormant feelings?

Sam Watson embraces the transition from frenetic Wall Street to a small Michigan resort town. His health is worth moving close to his dad who seems over the moon in love. But it’s the daughter of his father’s girlfriend who fascinates him. Abby Ten Eyck reminds him of his driven self. He must help her slow down before she burns out. Like he did.

Amazon  ~  Amazon UK  ~  iBooks  ~  Kobo  ~  Smashwords  ~ Nook

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: End of the Year

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: J.H. Moncrieff, Tonja Drecker , Patsy Collins, and Chrys Fey!

Congratulations to everyone who entered NaNoWriMo, whether or not you officially "won" (by writing 50k words). Congratulate yourself. You have more words written now than you did at the end of October. Consider yourself a winner. I do. 

I hope you’ve had a great month and a terrific year. We’ve all had our ups and downs. Winter in Michigan is so dreary. It really got to me in February. My daughter gave me a “happy” lamp to boost my intake of Vitamin D. Despite the emotional aspect, when I feel "down" I don’t want to move. I veg out in front of the TV. Not moving is bad for my back. Then, moving is painful because I’m stiff. A vicious cycle. So, I’m determined to move more and write more.

Despite the rough beginning, 2018 has been pretty good. I released one new book, Numbers Never Lie, a Romantic Suspense, re-released One Red Shoe (another romantic suspense) in ebook form (I need to get it out in print), and released two books that had been ebooks only as print ones: Romance Rekindled and Mission to New Earth. When I released the last two novellas, I hadn’t planned on putting them in print. But, as I did more book events (11 this year), I realized I should offer less expensive books as well as the longer novels.

What’s left for this month? Since 2013, I’ve been a regular contributor for The Roses of Prose blog. In December, each author posts a 3-day holiday short story. Mine will be up starting this Saturday, December 8^th. I hope you’ll check it out.

Something I realized while doing the book events is that people are more willing to buy for their kids (and grandkids) than they are for themselves. I have a YA science fiction story in my computer that I’ve done nothing with. My plan for 2019 is to refresh and publish it. 

Here's my dilemma: my earlier books are spicy (R-rated) while my more recent books aren't but still are more for adults. For a YA, should I develop a new author persona (I have the domain name) along with a new website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.? Rick Riordan and James Patterson write both adult and YA books under one name, so why am I concerned? Am I being overprotective of my (future) young readers? I'm really interested in your opinion.

I hope you’ll enjoy the holidays.

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.

Holiday #Giveaway -- Constance Bretes

My friend Connie Bretes has a giveaway via her newsletter each month. Check out all the great stories, including one of mine. Romance Rekindled (a spinoff of my Alex O'Hara novels) started as two holiday short stories. What's better than one short story? Two. What's better than two short stories? A novella. And that's what those stories became. A mother and daughter who find love again.

Abby Ten Eyck likes her life the way it is. She runs a successful business, has a well-adjusted teenage daughter, and has managed to keep men at bay since her divorce fifteen years ago. Just before Christmas, she’s hit with change. Her mother decides to sell the family home. Then she’s arrested, with an unknown man. Could this new man in her mother’s life create more upheaval? Or could his handsome son be just what Abby needs to revive her dormant feelings?

Sam Watson embraces the transition from frenetic Wall Street to a small Michigan resort town. His health is worth moving close to his dad who seems over the moon in love. But it’s the daughter of his father’s girlfriend who fascinates him. Abby Ten Eyck reminds him of his driven self. He must help her slow down before she burns out. Like he did.

Amazon  ~  Amazon UK  ~  iBooks  ~  Kobo  ~  Smashwords  ~ Nook

Check out Connie's newsletter for descriptions of all the stories and enter the Rafflecopter below. The drawing takes place on December 22. A nice present for yourself.


Christmas Wishes Romance Ebook Giveaway

Happy Holidays!

#WeWriWa - ROMANCE REKINDLED

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors where authors share an 8 - 10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other authors. You can find them here.

I'm sharing snippets from my Christmas story, ROMANCE REKINDLED. Abby's mother and new boyfriend were arrested the night before. It's Christmas Eve morning, and they're appearing before a judge, dressed as Santa. 

Please excuse the creative punctuation, necessary to keep this within the guidelines. It's also edited some from the original.

The last line from last week was: "Case dismissed.” He (Judge) banged the gavel then stood.

“But, sir—”

Santa narrowed his eyes, “Deputy Dawson, do you understand the words case dismissed?” he banged the gavel again.

“But—”

“Speak again, boy—” Santa shook the gavel at him, “—and you’ll be the one spending Christmas in jail—dismissed—get out of here—all of you.”

George and Florence stood and hugged each other, Santa left the room, and Deputy Dawg walked down the aisle with his tail between his legs, and the handcuffs on his belt jingling like the bells on Santa’s sleigh.

Outside the courthouse, the bright sun made the snow-covered trees glisten like fairy-land. Florence hugged George again, then Sam and Bethany. She looked at Abby and sighed, “This was the most fun I’ve had in years—don’t ruin it with a lecture.”

Abby thought of several things to say—none of them good, “It’s okay, Mother,” she gave her a quick hug. “Let’s go home.”

Blurb:

Abby Ten Eyck likes her life the way it is. She runs a successful business, has a well-adjusted teenage daughter, and has managed to keep men at bay since her divorce fifteen years ago. Just before Christmas, she’s hit with change. Her mother decides to sell the family home. Then she’s arrested, with an unknown man. Could this new man in her mother’s life create more upheaval? Or could his handsome son be just what Abby needs to revive her dormant feelings?

Sam Watson embraces transition from frenetic Wall Street to a small Michigan resort town. His health is worth moving close to his dad who seems over the moon in love. But it’s the daughter of his father’s girlfriend who fascinates him. Abby Ten Eyck reminds him of his driven self. He must help her slow down before she burns out. Like he did.

ROMANCE REKINDLED is available as an e-book at:

Amazon  ~  Amazon UK  ~  iBooks  ~  Kobo  ~  Smashwords  ~ Nook

ROMANCE REKINDLED is now available in print at: http://a.co/d/dOlyBlT

Be sure to check out the other WeWriWa authors. 

#WeWriWa - ROMANCE REKINDLED: Case Dismissed

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors where authors share an 8 - 10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other authors. You can find them here.

I'm sharing snippets from my Christmas story, ROMANCE REKINDLED. Abby's mother and new boyfriend were arrested the night before. It's Christmas Eve morning, and they're appearing before a judge, dressed as Santa.

Please excuse the creative punctuation, necessary to keep this within the guidelines. It's also edited some from the original.

“Florence and George, why were you taking bread from the dumpster—the Far Haven Mission feeds those in need.”

“The bread isn’t for us,” George said, “We feed the ducks with it.”

Mother stood, “Danny, I mean Your Honor, sir, that stingy old Duncan Randolph wouldn’t give me the bread when I asked him—we feed it to all the birds at Waterfront Park.”

Judge DeVran’s lips thinned, “Deputy, you called me away from my important duties at the hospital for this?” he shoved up his fur cuff to look at his watch.

“Yes, sir, I—”

“If Santa is late for the children’s holiday party, it will be your fault, Deputy. Case dismissed.” He banged the gavel then stood.

Blurb:

Abby Ten Eyck likes her life the way it is. She runs a successful business, has a well-adjusted teenage daughter, and has managed to keep men at bay since her divorce fifteen years ago. Just before Christmas, she’s hit with change. Her mother decides to sell the family home. Then she’s arrested, with an unknown man. Could this new man in her mother’s life create more upheaval? Or could his handsome son be just what Abby needs to revive her dormant feelings?

Sam Watson embraces transition from frenetic Wall Street to a small Michigan resort town. His health is worth moving close to his dad who seems over the moon in love. But it’s the daughter of his father’s girlfriend who fascinates him. Abby Ten Eyck reminds him of his driven self. He must help her slow down before she burns out. Like he did.

ROMANCE REKINDLED is available at:

Amazon  ~  Amazon UK  ~  iBooks  ~  Kobo  ~  Smashwords  ~ Nook

Be sure to check out the other WeWriWa authors. 

#WeWriWa - ROMANCE REKINDLED: Judge Santa

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors where authors share an 8 - 10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other authors. You can find them here.

Sorry I missed last week. Made a quick trip to my sister's in Indy and came home to a flooded basement. Our sump pump quit--for no apparent reason. My words of wisdom for this week: never, never, leave papers on the floor and don't put things you care about in cardboard boxes on the floor. The basement was finished and we lost all the carpet. Could have been worse--like sewer or storm water. Thank goodness, our adult children live nearby and came to the rescue. So overwhelming for us, but they organized a dumpster and hired movers along with boxing up stuff and hauling it out to our garage. Now to go through it all. I really didn't plan on purging again. Yikes!

So much for my tale of woe. I'm sharing snippets from my Christmas story, ROMANCE REKINDLED. Abby's mother and new boyfriend (can you call a 70+ year-old man a boyfriend?) were arrested the night before. It's Christmas Eve morning, and they're appearing before a judge, dressed as Santa.

Please excuse the creative punctuation, necessary to keep this within the guidelines. It's also edited some from the original.

“Well, now, is everyone here?” Judge Santa asked, “What about lawyers, since this is such an important case?” His eyes twinkled beneath the white fur of his hat.

George stood, “Yes, sir, we’re both here, and we don’t need lawyers.”

“Yeah,” Mother stood, “We don’t need no stinkin’ lawyers.”

While George chuckled and Mother chortled over the movie quote, Abby wanted to crawl under the bench—the judge rolled his eyes.

“Deputy, get those ridiculous handcuffs off those two upstanding citizens—they are hardly likely to escape,” as soon as the cuffs were removed, Judge Santa said, “Now, what is this all about?”

Deputy Dawson drew himself up, “Florence Ten Eyck and George Watson are accused of trespassing and theft—here’s the evidence,” he held up the large, black garbage bag then spilled the contents onto the table in front of the judge.

“Tell me, Deputy, are those five loaves of bread? Where are the two fishes?” Again, the judge’s eyes twinkled, and he looked like he was trying not to laugh at his own joke.

Blurb:

Abby Ten Eyck likes her life the way it is. She runs a successful business, has a well-adjusted teenage daughter, and has managed to keep men at bay since her divorce fifteen years ago. Just before Christmas, she’s hit with change. Her mother decides to sell the family home. Then she’s arrested, with an unknown man. Could this new man in her mother’s life create more upheaval? Or could his handsome son be just what Abby needs to revive her dormant feelings?

Sam Watson embraces transition from frenetic Wall Street to a small Michigan resort town. His health is worth moving close to his dad who seems over the moon in love. But it’s the daughter of his father’s girlfriend who fascinates him. Abby Ten Eyck reminds him of his driven self. He must help her slow down before she burns out. Like he did.

ROMANCE REKINDLED is available at:

Amazon  ~  Amazon UK  ~  iBooks  ~  Kobo  ~  Smashwords  ~ Nook

Be sure to check out the other WeWriWa authors. 

I'll be at another book event all day Sunday, but I'll be sure to visit when I return or during the week.

#WeWriWa - ROMANCE REKINDLED - Who's the Judge?

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors where authors share an 8 - 10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other authors. You can find them here.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by last week and left comments. This snippet is from my Christmas story, ROMANCE REKINDLED.

To orient you: After Abby discovered her mother was arrested with a strange man and his son showed up, they were told they had to wait for a hearing in two days--the day after Christmas. They return later that morning to visit.

Please excuse the creative punctuation, necessary to keep this within the guidelines. It's also edited some from the original.

“Hi, Abby,” Deputy Jenny Sampson called out, “If you’ve come to see your mother, you’re just in time, Ron’s taking her and George Watson over to the courthouse.”

At that moment, Deputy Dawson ushered a handcuffed George and Florence to the side door of the station, the one closest to the courthouse.

“Really, Ron?” Jenny said, “Handcuffs? Afraid those two desperados might get away from you?”

The deputy, who carried a large, black garbage bag, ignored her.

Abby followed Bethany into a bench, then Sam slid in next to her. She tried to scoot over, but Bethany wouldn’t budge. Abby was about to ask her to move when the bailiff announced, “All rise. The honorable Judge Daniel DeVran presiding.”

Santa Claus walked out and sat on the bench.

Blurb:

Abby Ten Eyck likes her life the way it is. She runs a successful business, has a well-adjusted teenage daughter, and has managed to keep men at bay since her divorce fifteen years ago. Just before Christmas, she’s hit with change. Her mother decides to sell the family home. Then she’s arrested, with an unknown man. Could this new man in her mother’s life create more upheaval? Or could his handsome son be just what Abby needs to revive her dormant feelings?

Sam Watson embraces transition from frenetic Wall Street to a small Michigan resort town. His health is worth moving close to his dad who seems over the moon in love. But it’s the daughter of his father’s girlfriend who fascinates him. Abby Ten Eyck reminds him of his driven self. He must help her slow down before she burns out. Like he did.

ROMANCE REKINDLED is available at:

Amazon  ~  Amazon UK  ~  iBooks  ~  Kobo  ~  Smashwords  ~ Nook

Be sure to check out the other WeWriWa authors. 

I'll be at a book event all day Sunday, but I'll be sure to visit when I return.

#WeWriWa - ROMANCE REKINDLED: The man in Mother's cell.

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors where authors share an 8 - 10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other authors. You can find them here.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by last week and left comments. Sorry it took me so long to get to everyone. This snippet is from my Christmas story, ROMANCE REKINDLED.

To orient you: After Abby got a middle-of-the-night phone call from the police, she and her teenage daughter, Bethany, race to the jail. 

Please excuse the creative punctuation, necessary to keep this within the guidelines. It's also edited some from the original.

“Who are you?” Abby demanded of the old man sitting in the cell next to Mother . . . and holding her mother’s hand!

Florence bounded off the cot with the agility of a much younger woman, all those classes at the Senior Center must be paying off, “Abigail Louise, what are you doing here?”

Abby fisted her hands on her hips, “What are you doing in jail—and who is that man?”

That man rose more slowly than Mother had—he looked to be about her age, or slightly older, and a little taller with a head of thick, gray hair and a weathered face that had seen a lot of sun. When he reached Mother’s side, he placed his arm around her waist. Around her waist! How dare he?

“Abigail, go home, I don’t want you here. How could you drag poor Bethany out of bed at this hour of the morning? And it’s such a nasty night with the storm coming in across the lake.”

I said in last week's comments I'd reveal why Mother is in jail. Sorry. I'm going to tease you a little longer.

Blurb:

Abby Ten Eyck likes her life the way it is. She runs a successful business, has a well-adjusted teenage daughter, and has managed to keep men at bay since her divorce fifteen years ago. Just before Christmas, she’s hit with change. Her mother decides to sell the family home. Then she’s arrested, with an unknown man. Could this new man in her mother’s life create more upheaval? Or could his handsome son be just what Abby needs to revive her dormant feelings?

Sam Watson embraces transition from frenetic Wall Street to a small Michigan resort town. His health is worth moving close to his dad who seems over the moon in love. But it’s the daughter of his father’s girlfriend who fascinates him. Abby Ten Eyck reminds him of his driven self. He must help her slow down before she burns out. Like he did.

ROMANCE REKINDLED is available at:

Amazon  ~  Amazon UK  ~  iBooks  ~  Kobo  ~  Smashwords  ~ Nook

Be sure to check out the other WeWriWa authors.