IWSG "Washing" Away March, LOL

IWSG WEBSITE

Aside from my joking title, I am not going to write about C-19. Instead, I'm going to give you access to another friend's new release, that I, for one, can't wait to read! Then I will go on to my IWSG post...

“King has gifted us an immersive world, filled with memorable characters. What an adventure! All fantasy novels should have this kind of momentum.”

                               - Carrie Butler, author of the award-winning Mark of Nexus series 

COMING TODAY, APRIL FIRST! NO JOKE!

 AMAZON  

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE 

GOODREADS

A princess. A dragon. Their quest.

Terrible things happen whenever Princess Celesia falls in love—she blacks out and attacks her suitors, which makes an alliance with a more powerful nation impossible. Believing that she’s cursed, Celesia is given two choices: marry without love, or be responsible for her kingdom’s demise. Instead, she sneaks off in search of a remedy.

She doesn’t make it far when she encounters a dragon who bears a curse of his own—he is a prince, desperate to reclaim his humanity before the dragon takes over. He's heard of a stone that can lift both of their curses, but neither of them can find it alone, and they’re not the only ones after it. An evil alchemist is intent on using it to steal the land’s magic and dominate the realm. Only together, with the help of an even greater magic, can Celesia and the dragon stop this evil, or be bound forever by their curses.

David was born in beautiful downtown Burbank, California where his love for film inspired him to write. His works include the internationally published YA Fantasy Woven and The Undead Road: My Zombie Summer. An avid fan of science fiction and fantasy, David also has a soft spot for zombies and the paranormal. He now lives in the mountain West with his wife and four children.

DAVID'S BLOG 

DAVID'S TWITTER 

Now, on to my insecure post, which will be short again, I hope. First, here is the important information about IWSG...

Our Twitter handle is: @TheIWSG

Our hashtag is: #IWSG

Our wonderful co-hosts this month are: 

Diane Burton, JH Moncrieff, Anna@Emaginett, 

Karen@Reprobate Typewriter, Erika Beebe , and Lisa Buie-Collard !

Please feel free to visit their blogs and thank them for co-hosting this month!

Also, if you'd like, take advantage of the (first idea) April 1st question here below. You could make it a doozy since it is, after all April Fool's Day!

Do you have any rituals that you use when you need help getting into the ZONE? Care to share?

Or, and this isn't as funny, or maybe you can make it funny, the second idea question is: How are you doing in lock-down-mode/cloistering/sequestering/being alone/not being alone?!

I don't have any real rituals so I'll go straight to the craziness of life at the moment and how I want it to affect my writing. Since I am "stuck" at home, I can't see a good, logical reason for not writing. So, I'm setting a schedule for myself and I will let you know in May if I was able to stick to it, and, if I succeed in finishing this novel! Argh!

My schedule is/will be:

Three hours a day (or more) until I am done with this novel. I am committing to a full three hours, not doing anything but writing/revising. I will do this every afternoon until it is done. That is my commitment to myself. Wish me luck!!! 

I wish you ALL luck. I wish that you will ALL stay safe and healthy until we make it through this...

March Is Marching In IWSG

IWSG WEBSITE

Today I wanted to share a friend's newest release with you, so will do so after my IWSG post, which is short this month! I know you're happy to hear that.
Writing is making a slow come back for me, but it IS happening. The journey with these characters is coming to fruition, and whew, I am glad. Makes me almost get excited about covers and formatting and such, the next steps...

On to March's question of the month:
Other than the obvious holiday traditions, have you every included any personal or family traditions/customs in your stories?
Yes, yes I have. Growing up we never had only one type of cereal in the house because, and I don't know how it started, but we always mixed our cereals. One was just so boring! So I used this in one of my novels, that hasn't come out yet, but I did use it!

Sneek peek...!

Our amazing IWSG co-hosts this month, besides me, are:

Shannon Lawrence  http://thewarriormuse.blogspot.com/

Sarah Foster http://thefauxfountainpen.blogspot.com/

Natalie Aquirre http://www.literaryrambles.com/

Jacqui Murray https://worddreams.wordpress.com/

Please go by their blogs and thank them for co-hosting this month!!!

Facebook/ Blog/ Website

On to the most exciting news! Elizabeth is a multi-published author of books for people who are believers in happily-ever- after, true love, and stories with a bit of fun and twists with their plots. The mother of four young men, she tackles laundry daily and is the keeper of the kitchen. She lives along the shores of the Ohio River in West Virginia, but dreams daily of the beach. Here is her latest achievement and newest release...

It's about...

Hayden Matthews isn’t looking for love—she’s trying to get as far from it as possible. She's already wasted eight years in a failed marriage and is ready for a good life. A peaceful life. One where she can raise her daughter to be strong, independent, and happy. But to make that happen, she must fix her own life first.

Cam Vorelli has loved Hayden since he was in grade school. Always in the friend-zone, he stood on the sidelines, his heart breaking, as she said I do to the wrong man. A man he knew didn’t deserve her, who could never love her as he did. But what could he say? She was marrying into his family. Cam would never break a holy vow much less be disloyal to his kin.

Until he sees the bruises on Hayden. Abuse is a game changer.

Leaving a husband like Tag, who has a hot temper, a badge, and a gun is tricky. When Hayden calls Cam for help, she isn’t trying to lure him into any romantic webs. She needs someone she can trust and knowing her soon-to-be ex fears his former NFL cousin is a bonus.

When Cam comes to her rescue, he isn’t doing it to win her love. He does it because it’s the right thing to do. But if she starts to feel the same for him…couldn’t it be fate?

Kobo: FREE

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/about-us-a-second-chance-novel

Smashwords FREE

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1004700

Amazon: FREE 

https://tinyurl.com/u6xcrob

This is a "heart" novel, one of hope; one that speaks to all of us and shows the worst as well as the best of who we can be.

February Already! IWSG

IWSG WEBSITE

Welcome to February! The weather can't make up its mind and neither can I. There is so much to think of these days and my dreams have been crazy. I guess I must be working out a great deal of stress in them, because I awake each morning wondering where the latest dream has come from.
When you don't know where "home" will be in five months, that can add a bit of stress to everyday life. The good thing is my hubby will no longer be a student! When he graduates in May, we will be free to find a new home. Just where that home might be is, as I said, in the air somewhere. Feels like my writing at the moment. In the air... I hope all of you are enjoying the new year and that writing or whatever art you make is enhancing your life with joy and accomplishment. I hope to hone in to my art/writing and finish this you-know-what book!!! Keeping this short this month...

PLEASE VISIT AND THANK

THE WONDERFUL CO-HOSTS FOR FEBRUARY:

Lee Lowery, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Jennifer Hawes, Cathrina Constantine,

Tyrean Martinson!

Question of the Month: Has a singe photo or work of art ever inspired a story? What was it and did you finish it?
Photos were used in a writing workshop I went to once, and the one I chose inspired a flash fiction story. It was fun and I did finish it. I'd love to have someone publish it one day...

IWSG 2020! Another Year Has Gone By...

IWSG 2020

2019 has come and gone and now we move into a new decade. For some reason I used to think decades lasted forever, but of course as I am older now, they don't last long enough.
This year is starting with so much uncertainty in the world. It is also starting with uncertainty in my life. I have only vague ideas of where I/we (my husband and I) will be in six months and even those ideas might not be what actually happens.
So, my word for the beginning of this decade, the beginning of this year is uncertainty, and I don't necessarily mean that in a bad way. I will do my best to "go with the flow" and take one day, one month at a time. I know in reality the next five months will fly by, so I want to be where I am until the future unfolds.
I wish for all of you a wonderful beginning and continuation of 2020. I hope if you too, face uncertainty, that we face it together and roll with whatever comes our way. Good luck in your writing and good luck in life! Happy IWSG day for January!

My hubby and me!

 Question of the month: What started you on your writing journey? Was it a particular book, movie, story, or series? Was it a teacher/coach/spouse/friend/parent? Did you just "know" suddenly you wanted to write?
Honestly, I think it was my father who planted the idea first. When I was very young, my sister and I had to write a story (with or without drawings) only a page or two long, for our allowance. I liked doing it. I think that's where the bug bit me. I went on to keep journals, and then to write seriously. It's a love/hate relationship, but one I can't seem to give up or ignore...

Please go by and thank the awesome co-hosts for the January 8 posting of the IWSG: T. Powell Coltrin, Victoria Marie Lees, Stephen Tremp, Renee Scattergood, and J.H. Moncrieff!

IWSG December - Baby It's Cold Outside!

IWSG

This Christmas we are staying in Ohio. It will be a "small" Christmas, one without the large, loving, boisterous family we usually spend it with. I am sad about that, but also happy to think of having a "small" Christmas. One with my husband and I, and perhaps our daughter (who lives close by, but might be busy); one where we share time with each other and maybe dream about the time to come next year when our life will change again. School for my husband will be over, and we will move on to wherever it is we are to be next. We have options! This is good! So this Christmas will be a quiet reflective and cosy gentle time before the big push through the last semester. I hope and wish all of you whatever you wish for this season and that next year will bring good things to you. Merry Everything!

December 4th (optional) question is:
Let's play a game. Imagine. Role-play. How would you describe your future writer self, your life and what it looks and feels like if you were living the dream? Or if you are already there, what does it look and feel like? Tell the rest of us. What would you change or improve?

Okay, first, I would add to the question by asking: Is living the dream what you thought it would be?

Now, imagining if I were living the dream...
My life is moving faster than I thought possible, and I am providing not only so my husband doesn't HAVE to work, but I've paid my children's student debt off and they are free! My daughter now works for me marketing me full time and is happy to schedule her life as she needs to. My husband teaches because he loves it, which is a bonus for us. My son is moving up the ladder in his chosen field and writing/singing when he wants, selling his songs and making his living doing what he loves. Enabling all this, I am busy writing, giving my stories wings and loving having a full life.  

Our wonderful co-hosts for December 4th are:

   Tonja Drecker,

Beverly Stowe McClure,

 Nicki Elson,
Fundy Blue,
Tyrean Martinson! 

Please go by their blogs and thank them!

Please visit these websites below for more information on helping our planet, and therefore helping ourselves to not self destruct..

Images from:

https://evoke.ie/2019/01/01/life-style/these-are-the-5-most-significant-ways-you-can-save-the-planet-in-2019

https://www.kafetero.com/post/fun-ways-to-save-the-planet

https://pngtree.com/freepng/save-the-world-globe-and-hands-doodle-earth-icon-hand-drawn-on-white-background_5009285.html