Wednesday, June 3, 2020

IWSG: Secrets and Bloo Moose

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.


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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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June 3 question - Writers have secrets! What are one or two of yours, something readers would never know from your work?

Before I get to the rest, I have to say it was really difficult to put this post together amidst all the difficulties in the world. I hope you are all well and safe. I hope you are working in your own way to make the world a better place, a kinder place, and a safer place. Racism and prejudice have no place in our world. Ever. Black lives matter. LGBTQ+ lives matter. Stay safe. Stay kind.

On to IWSG

Secret #1

This probably isn't a secret to my bloggy friends because I've mentioned it before. But if a person only knew me from reading my books (nonfiction on dementia and contemporary romance), they'd be surprised to find that I am also a huge Speculative Fiction (SciFi and fantasy) fan. The movies I watch and love all tend to fall into that genre.

Secret #2

One of my jobs as a teen was to teach cartooning to kids. I'm not an artist but I've always enjoyed doodling and cartooning. They couldn't find an instructor who was qualified so I got the job. We had a lot of fun over those weeks!

How about you? Any secrets you'd like to share? Any SF fans or cartoonists out there?

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PS: My Bloo Moose romances are coming out in July! If you'd like to read an ARC or you would like more information, check out THIS POST. Thanks!

book covers for Reaching For Normal, Reaching For Risks and Reaching For Everything

65 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Teaching cartooning to kids - that sounds like fun.
If speculative fiction is your thing, hope you enter this year's IWSG contest.

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Actually, it sounds like you *are* an artist! That's a really cool summer job.

Congratulations on the upcoming releases! You've had a very productive year!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I tend to like those kinds of movies best even though I don't write those kinds of stories.

Mason Canyon said...

While I enjoy reading SciFi, I enjoy watching those type movies even more. Congrats on your upcoming books. Through Books 1 & 2 and a third of the way into Book 3. All are wonderful!

mshatch said...

Scifi and fantasy are my go to. Have you seen The Expanse? I very much enjoyed season one.

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

I did know that about you. I remember reading that in one of your book release posts. Happy IWSG Wednesday, Jemi. Hope your sales are to the roof.

emaginette said...

Congrats on your series. I did enjoy your fist. :-)

Anna from elements of emaginette

Pat Garcia said...

Hi,
Congrats on your upcoming releases. Working with the kids must have been lots of fun.
Wishing you a great month of June and thanks for being a part of IWSG.

Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange

Cathrina Constantine said...

Cartooning with kids sounds like fun! Congrats on your upcoming releases!

Yolanda Renée said...

How awesome, cartooning!!! I finished your 2nd book last night and it was just as good as the first. I'm looking forward to the 3rd!
Loved your intro, and you are so right. It's a horrible time but my heart feels that this is it. This is finally the time when all will change. I may not live to see it, but GOOD wil come of all this mess. I know it!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Congratulations on your new books! I pre-ordered the first one, so consider me a reading reviewer. :)
I think it's really cool that you taught cartooning.

Jemi Fraser said...

It was fun!
I've got some ideas floating in my head - just need the time to get them down on the screen!

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Elizabeth - not sure that label fits though!
I think I could have chosen a better time for releases, but that's the way it goes sometimes!

Jemi Fraser said...

Me too - they're so much fun!

Jemi Fraser said...

Wow - you're amazing, Mason! So glad you're enjoying!!!!

Jemi Fraser said...

I haven't seen that one yet - but it's on the list!

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks so much Joylene! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks, Anna! Your insights were helpful!

Jemi Fraser said...

I had a great time with the kids!

Jemi Fraser said...

It was a lot of fun!

Jemi Fraser said...

The cartooning was fun!
Wow - you're so fast. So glad you're enjoying - sending a book into the world is terrifying!
I hope you're right - the world needs to get on track!!!

Jemi Fraser said...

It really was! I had a great time!

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks so much, Tyrean!!! You made my day!
I had a blast with the cartooning - so much fun :)

cleemckenzie said...

Those are great secrets to share. Getting to teach something like cartooning had to have been such a hoot!

Jemi Fraser said...

It was so much fun! Made me realize I wanted to be a teacher :)

Natalie Aguirre said...

Congrats on your books! And awesome that you can cartoon and doodle. I draw like a four-year old.

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks, Natalie - I appreciate your support!!
Spend a few hours cartooning as a kid and it paid off a bit!

Anonymous said...

What a great teen job! Congrats on your upcoming releases - I hope your accomplishments bring you some well-deserved joy during these trying times.

Chrys Fey said...

Thank you for sharing your secrets! I wish I could make fun cartoons.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

That sounds like a great summer job. Congrats on your books coming out soon.

Jennifer Hawes said...

I was an art teacher for ten years. One of my favorite units was teaching cartoon art! So much fun

Michelle Wallace said...

I do know that you love Speculative Fiction. However, your IWSG anthology story has convinced me that you should be writing more suspense/thriller stories.
Congrats on the new books! Bloo Moose romances - sounds charming!
(P.S. I'm still busy reading Dancing With Dementia... it's such an eye-opener)
Happy IWSG Day!

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Lee! This isn't the easiest time to promote anything!

Jemi Fraser said...

Cartoons are fun - spent a lot of time doodling when I was a kid!

Jemi Fraser said...

It was great!
Thank you!

Jemi Fraser said...

That's a fun job! I love teaching art :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Thank you!!! The romances do have that suspense element, but I may try a straight thriller at one point! They're fun :)

Elephant's Child said...

I am too dull for secrets.
I am however a fan of spec fic - though lean more to fantasy than the hard edged Sci-Fi. Mind you there are very few writing genres that are off my reading list. Very, very few. I am a greedy reader.

Carol Kilgore said...

I've pre-ordered all your Bloo Moose books. Love that name and SO looking forward to reading them!!!

Jemi Fraser said...

I'm a greedy reader as well! Can't read horror or books with torture or abuse though. Way past my tolerance levels!

Jemi Fraser said...

You're the BEST, Carol!! Thanks so very much!

Donna Hanton said...

Cartooning is fun! Even the artistically challenged (me) have had some success at it! Also interested in your upcoming books--right up my alley! I'll preorder for sure, maybe message you when I'm more sorted, to do something on the blog.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Teaching cartooning to kids sounds like fun :)
And yay for another spec fic fan :)

A Hundred Quills said...

I'm just not a Sci-fi fan. But guess what! I'm still considering the anthology sub. Only considering.
The world is in tatters and it hurts so much. I wish we heal soon.
Sonia from https://soniadogra.com

Jemi Fraser said...

Cartooning is a lot of fun!
Thanks Donna! I appreciate your interest and hear you on the getting life sorted!

Jemi Fraser said...

It was fun!
I was hooked from my first Star Trek episode as a kid!

Jemi Fraser said...

That's terrific, Sonia! I hope you write a story for the anthology.
It does hurt a lot. That healing is the goal but it's going to take some time.

J Lenni Dorner said...

Yes, I'm a fan of the genre in which I write (SFF). Ha ha ha. Great secret. Have you ever read Get Fuzzy? That's my favorite cartoon comic.
Happy IWSG day!

Deniz Bevan said...

Cartooning sounds fun! I'm always impressed by the brevity and visual talent needed to tell stories in that format. Can't wait for your new releases!

Jemi Fraser said...

I haven't read that one - I'll check it out! Thanks :)

Jemi Fraser said...

I love cartoons and teaching the basics!
Thanks so much! I'm excited to have them out and about! :)

Tonja Drecker said...

How fun to get to teach cartooning to kids! I use to read a lot of scifi but have switched to sweet, comedy romance and mystery. It's not what I write, and I'm not sure I'd be good at writing it, either.

Jemi Fraser said...

It was a great summer job!
I used to read hard-hitting books, can't do those anymore!

Shannon Lawrence said...

Sounds like a fun job to have had! People are often surprised by the wide array of media I take in. It's not all horror! We enjoy what we enjoy. Stay safe and well!

Rebecca M. Douglass said...

Teaching cartooning! What a fun job, though you must have had moments of panic, since you weren't exactly a pro :D

And I'm with you--it's hard to just carry on as though things were normal right now. It's time some things stopped being normal, and it seems to take major upheaval to change them.

Jemi Fraser said...

Exactly! I like being eclectic!
You as well!

Jemi Fraser said...

There were definitely more than a few moments of panic!! :)
Agreed - we need to change the normal to be much, much better!

Mary Aalgaard said...

We all have many layers of interest and talents. I'm surprised when someone knows me for only one of my talents/jobs, and then they're surprised that I do other things. Sounds like a fun summer job teaching cartooning!
Mary at Play off the Page

Jemi Fraser said...

You're exactly right! We often don't see all the facets of the person we've come to know!

Heather R. Holden said...

Wow, had no idea you taught cartooning! How fun!

Jemi Fraser said...

It was - but I DEFINITELY could have used your help!!!

Nick Wilford said...

That sounds like a fun job! And it's always good to read other genres outside what we write. There's a lot to learn from everything.

Jemi Fraser said...

Exactly! Some of my favourite novels continue to be the dystopians I was introduced to in high school!

Romance Reader said...

You did some fun jobs! Congrats on your stories coming out.

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks so much, RR! I loved the cartooning :)