IWSG & Working Writers

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh. He, his clones, minions, friends, and fellow authors make it an amazing event every month.

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! 

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October 7 question - When you think of the term working writer, what does that look like to you? What do you think it is supposed to look like? Do you see yourself as a working writer or aspiring or hobbyist, and if latter two, what does that look like?

For me, a working writer is one who has moved past the hobby stage. I think a working writer is actively planning to publish or has already published a book and has plans to write multiple books to publish.

I spent the better part of a decade learning the craft, finding my voice, deciding on the age group and genre I wanted to write, and dodging life's curveballs. During that time I didn't consider myself a working writer.

Once I published Dancing With Dementia in March, I felt like a writer but not a working writer.

Now that the Bloo Moose series is on the loose and growing I definitely would consider myself a working writer. I plan on growing the series and have plans for at least 2 more series I'd love to write within the romance/romantic suspense world. I also have some SF I'd like to try but I think I'll stay on-brand for the foreseeable future.

How about you? Is your definition similar to mine? Are you a working writer? Do you have plans that are bigger than your time to achieve them? Anyone else write in series?

PS: Reaching For Balance (Bloo Moose #4) releases on Tuesday, October 13. It is currently available for preorder for $0.99. It will pop up to regular price of $3.99 after release, so pick up your copy now!

PPS: If you want to try the series out, Reaching For Normal (Bloo Moose #1) is FREE at all retailers!

PPPS: Reaching For Christmas (Bloo Moose #5) releases on Tuesday, November 10. It is currently available for preorder for $0.99. Its price will pop up to $3.99 after release as well.

Chrys Fey and Frozen Crimes

 Please welcome Chrys Fey back to the blog today!!

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Frozen Crimes
Chrys Fey
(Disaster Crimes, #5)
Published by: The Wild Rose Press
Publication date: September 30th 2020
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

Beth and Donovan are expecting their first child. Life couldn’t get any better…until a stalker makes his presence known. This person sends disturbing messages and unsettling items, but it isn’t long before his menacing goes too far.

Hoping for a peaceful Christmas, Donovan takes Beth to Michigan. Days into their trip, a winter storm named Nemesis moves in with the goal of burying the state. Snowdrifts surround their house, and the temperature drops below freezing.

Except, the storm isn’t the only nemesis they must face. Everyone’s lives are at stake—especially that of their unborn child. Will they survive, or will they become a frozen crime?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks

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EXCERPT:

The crunch of the shovel pounding into the snow and ice filled his ears. It was all he could hear. The rest of the street was silent beneath its wintry blanket. Breathing was difficult with the icy air clogging his lungs. His nose burned. His throat was dry and on fire. But he ignored it, focusing on his task.

Crack, crack, crack.

He jabbed the shovel into a hunk of snow. On the third hit, it shattered into several pieces. He scooped them up and flung them to the side. He surveyed what remained. There was one big ball in the middle of the path that needed to be dealt with next. He moved over to it and struck it. That one impact had it severing in two. He was about to hit it again when something crashed into the back of his head.

Explosions of white light danced over his vision. Pain enveloped his skull. The shovel slipped from his fingers. Blackness cloaked his mind, coaxing him into its depths.

Beth. Her name was a whisper in his head as if his thoughts were being sucked into a wormhole.

His legs collapsed under his weight.

Cold. It seeped into him, consuming him. And then his consciousness fled down that same void that ate his thoughts.

Author Bio:

Chrys Fey is author of the Disaster Crimes Series, a unique concept that blends disasters, crimes, and romance. She runs the Insecure Writer’s Support Group Book Club on Goodreads and edits for Dancing Lemur Press. https://www.chrysfey.com

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Newsletter

GIVEAWAY!
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Hosted by:

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Congrats to Chrys on her latest release! I like the rapport between Beth and Donovan throughout the series and I'm looking forward to this one too!

Sherry Ellis: Bubba & Squirt's Mayan Adventure

Join me today for author Sherry Ellis’ MC Book Tour for her latest release, BUBBA AND SQUIRT’S MAYAN ADVENTURE.

This is a delightful juvenile fiction story that readers of all ages will enjoy.

◊ Genre: Juvenile Fiction
◊ Publisher: Dancing Lemur Press (Sept. 7, 2020)
◊ Print & eBooks
◊ Paperback: 96 pages
◊ ISBN-10: 1939844703
◊ ISBN-13: 978-1939844705

An ancient Mayan civilization!     

That's what Bubba and Squirt find when they travel through the mysterious vortex for another wild adventure. There they meet archeologists who are unearthing priceless artifacts.

But someone is stealing them. And an encounter with the Tate Duende awakens magic within Bubba. Throw in the mysterious Alux and a new discovery and things get sticky.

Will Bubba and Squirt solve the mystery, or will they be stuck forever in the jungles of Belize?

Bubba and Squirt available at 

AMAZON US   *   APPLE BOOKS   *   DANCING LEMUR PRESS   *   BARNES & NOBLE  *  BAM   *   KOBO

Meet the Author

Sherry Ellis is an award-winning author and professional musician who plays and teaches the violin, viola, and piano. 

When she is not writing or engaged in musical activities, she can be found doing household chores, hiking, or exploring the world. Ellis and her family live in Atlanta, Georgia.

For more information on Sherry and her writing, connect with her on: Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads * Blog * Website * Amazon Author Page

GIVEAWAY

The author is sponsoring a tour-wide giveaway. She is giving away ten (10) autographed print copies of the book open to all. Be sure to enter below on the Rafflecopter widget. If the widget doesn’t appear, click HERE to enter the giveaway. The giveaway ends at midnight on Oct. 17^th.

You can also follow Sherry’s tour for more information and chances to enter by visiting the following sites:

Monday, Sept. 14 - Write With Fey - Guest Post
Alex J. Cavanaugh - Guest Post
Tuesday, Sept. 15 - Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews - Interview
Wednesday, Sept. 16 - The Story of a Writer - Review
Thursday, Sept. 17 - Book Reviews by Pat Garcia - Review
Friday, Sept. 18 - Booked Solid with Virginia C - Feature
Rockin' Book Reviews - Review & Top Ten List
Monday, Sept. 21 - Just Jemi - Review & Interview
Anna del C. Dye Official Page - Excerpt
Tuesday, Sept. 22 - Baroness' Book Trove - Review
Saturday, Sept. 26 - Storeybook Reviews - Excerpt
Monday, Sept. 28 - Elizabeth Spann Craig's Blog - Guest Post
Joylene Nowell Butler - Excerpt
Journaling Woman - Feature
Wednesday, Sept. 30 - Nesie's Place - Excerpt
Friday, Oct. 2 - Thoughts in Progress - Review
Monday, Oct. 5 - The Sexy Nerd "Revue" - Excerpt
Wednesday, Oct. 7 - Willow Writes and Reads - Review
Friday, Oct. 9 - Celticlady's Reviews - Excerpt
Monday, Oct. 12 - Literary Rambles - Interview
Wednesday, Oct. 14 - Writer's Gambit - Feature & Top 10 List

Thanks for stopping by today. Do you enjoy all different types of genres and age-related stories?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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I had a few questions for Sherry...

What's a Fun Fact you learned about the Mayan culture?

There’s a reason ancient Mayan carvings and drawings depict people with flattened foreheads.  Flat heads (and stones drilled into teeth) were considered fashionable. The Maya strapped boards to the foreheads of their babies and made them wear them for six years to achieve the look. Aren’t you glad that’s no longer in style?

Yikes!! I'm SO glad that's no longer in style. Wow - cultures always have such different views of what constitutes beauty!

Would you like to be an archeologist?

Yes and no. Yes, because if I found something unusual and valuable, it would be an amazing experience! No, because I don’t think I’d have the patience to squat down in a quadrant all day, sifting through dirt and carefully brushing debris off of whatever I found. Putting pieces and parts of things together would also try my patience. I think I’ll stick with writing and music.

You're a musician, do you think Bubba and Squirt might ever visit one of the famous composers?

That would be an interesting idea, but as of today, there are no plans for Bubba and Squirt to meet a famous composer, living or dead. I have five books of Bubba and Squirt adventures planned. The next three will be a trilogy. I don’t think the Bubba and Squirt adventures will continue after that, but who knows? Never say never!

Thank you for having me as a guest!

Thanks for the great answers!

Now to my review:

This is SUCH a fun book! I adored Bubba and Squirt. They're interesting characters who have different personalities. This brother and sister team love each other and respect each other, even when they drive each other a little batty!

I loved the visit to an archeological dig and a look at the Mayan culture as well as the current Belize culture. The interesting characters and a plot that keeps spinning in interesting directions will be loved by both kids and adults alike. I'm also looking forward to trying the chicken tortilla soup with the recipe.

A great read for everyone!

How about you? Any budding/wannabe archeologists or musicians out there? Anyone else want to travel through that vortex or check out Mayan artifacts?

Bloo Moose Nooz!

 Or "News" if you're not yet comfortable with Bloo Moose spellings!

The Bloo Moose Universe is getting bigger.

On October 13, Reaching For Balance will be released. This is Gage and Rebecca's story and I can't wait for it to be out and about! The preorder price is $0.99 but the price will go up to $3.99 after release day so grab your copy now!

One undercover FBI agent protecting a boy.

One Lodge owner protecting his town.

One undeniable connection.

Amazon (US).       Amazon (CA)       Apple.      B&N.      Kobo.      Google Play.      BookBub.        Goodreads       Website

Reaching For Normal is FREE at all major retailers. I always planned to have the first book in the series free as a way to entice new readers into the series. We all have to be careful how we spend our pennies, so the free book should help readers decide if the series is one they'll enjoy.

She's no damsel in distress.

He's no Prince Charming.

But if they don't team up, it won't be only wolves that'll be dying.

Amazon (US)        Amazon (CA).      Apple.      B&N.      Kobo.      Google Play.      BookBub        Goodreads.       Website

Also, if you sign up for my newsletter's mailing list, you'll receive a Free Short Story.

Reaching For Adventure is a short glimpse into Myla's past. Myla is one of the main characters in Reaching For Normal. Neither the short story nor the novel contain spoilers and can be read in either order.

Her past has more questions than answers.

Her best friend is her car.

But if she can figure out her place, she just might have a shot at normal.

(newsletter link)

Finally, I'm working hard to get another novel out before 2020 is over. It's a Christmas story so I'd better get working!

How about you? What are you up to? Anyone have new releases to shout out about?

Why I Love Scrivener - Plotting

I'm been asked multiple times about Scrivener and why it works for me, so I thought I'd put together a few posts. Hopefully, they're helpful!

Here are the previous posts:

The Basics (organizational basics)

Double Vision (double writing pane)

I don't use the whole range of tools in Scrivener but I've found that MANY of the features really work for my brain. This program has saved my sanity and my stories on many occasions.

When I first started writing, I was a total Pantser (writing by the seat of my pants). I knew the genre I was writing, but that was about it when I started. As you can imagine, this created a need for a LOT of revising and editing. Over time, I decided to learn to plot.

However, most plot books didn't make a lot of sense to my brain. Enter Libbie Hawker's Take Off Your Pants book. Now I have a much better sense of story before I start. I don't feel overwhelmed by the amount of plotting I do and it doesn't suck the joy out of the actual writing for me (which happened with other styles of plotting).

Of course, everyone has to find their own way to plot or not to plot.

When using Scrivener, I always have a folder for Paths. Which is how I think of plotting thanks to Libbie. Each character has their own Path and then I have to combine their paths.

In the screenshot, you'll see the top part of a chart I've created using Libbie's book. It gives me the basics for the character's path. I do one for each character (I have 2 MCs as I write romance with dual pov). Then I need to combine these two paths into one story. And that's where the right-hand side of the screenshot comes in. It bears the fancy title of "Things that need to happen."

I don't have a step-by-step outline. Rather, I have the two paths and the chart of what happens in what order.

Because Scrivener allows that wonderful double writing-space option, I can have either of the Paths or the Combined Path on the screen at the same time as I'm drafting. This helps keep me on track and reminds me where I'm going.

No matter what style of outlining or plotting you do I think you can use Scrivener's double workspace option to your advantage.

How about you? Do you like having your outline visible as you're writing? Anyone else use Take Off Your Pants? Any tips to share?

IWSG & Wishlist Beta Partners

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh. He, his clones, minions, friends, and fellow authors make it an amazing event every month.

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! 

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September 2 question - If you could choose one author, living or dead, to be your beta partner, who would it be and why?

What a great question!

I think this answer would totally change depending on the genre I'm writing.

Currently, I'm focusing on contemporary romance with a mix of suspense and humour. The overall tone of my writing is hopeful and the endings are always happy.

I'd love to have Jill Shalvis as a beta partner. Her stories run from contemporary romance to women's fiction. I love the humour and emotion she injects in everything she writes. Her characters are complex - full of strengths and flaws. Her plots are tightly written with intriguing twists. Her writing always tugs at the heartstrings.

Working with someone who writes such fascinating characters and plots would teach me a lot. I also think she'd like the Bloo Moose romances and a beta has to enjoy the books!

How about you? Does your genre influence who you would choose as a beta partner? Anyone else write contemporary romance?

WEP Blades of Grass

Toya thumped to the ground with a sigh. The grass tickled the back of her knees and she reached to pull a blade from the ground.

A wide blade, perfect for making duck calls. Toya placed the blade between her thumbs but didn’t make the call.

Granny would have laughed.

The voices of the adults drifted around her, but Toya ignored them all. None of them were talking to her anyway.

Granny would have talked to her.

“Toya,” she’d say. “You blow on that grass, sunshine girl. Life is too short to be demure. You go out there and live some, you hear?”

Still, Toya didn’t blow on the grass. Instead, she rolled it between her fingers until it was a tight little ball then plucked another one.

And another.

Soon, there was a little pyramid of grass balls in front of her.

“What do you see, girl?”

A pyramid of knitting yarn Granny would use to make a sweater.

A pile of balls waiting for a cat to play.

Ammunition for a pea shooter to get back at Roger for tugging at her braids.

“Always thinking small, girl. Think bigger.”

Magic mints for the fairies and brownies who filled the woods behind the farm.

Memories.

Each ball a memory.

Granny stirring up a pot of soup.

Sitting in the sunbeams playing with the cats in the barn. Granny always said you were never too old to play in the sunbeams.

Granny holding her hand in the cemetery, telling Toya her folks might be gone, but they’d always be with her.

Making scrapbook pages with Granny.

Toya picked up the tiny balls of grass and tried to imprint each of them with a memory. She had to remember.

“Time to go.”

The woman’s voice broke Toya’s chain of memories, but she didn’t look up into that face she didn’t know.

There weren’t any other voices left. The other adults were gone.

Gone.

Toya picked up another ball of grass. Granny laughing with her as they tossed out her first attempt at peanut butter cookies.

The big bed where it was safe when the nightmares came along with the thunder.

“Toya, please stand up. We need to leave. It’s getting late and the Lawsons are expecting us.”

The Lawsons. The people she hadn’t met yet. The people she didn’t want to meet.

“Toya, it’s getting dark. It’s time to leave.”

The sun peeked over the top of the headstone but as Toya looked up, the sun winked and dropped below, leaving her in the shadows.

In Granny’s shadow.

Toya picked up the last ball of grass and added it to the memory pile in her hand. Then she rose out of the comfort of Granny’s shadow and went with the lady she didn't know.

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This is an entry for the WEP August challenge The Long Shadow. If you click on the link, you'll find a host of other stories based on the prompt. The stories are always diverse and entertaining - well worth the time to read!

How about you? Any memories you've preserved for yourself?