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!

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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

IWSG: November, Colorfully Heralding Holidays

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November 6th Question: What's the strangest thing you've ever googled in researching a story?

While researching Celts/Gaelic peoples, I found that the Celts had soap before Romans did, that they built many of the roads (in England/Wales) that the Romans claim credit for, and a few other juicy bits that I researched not only through historical books on the subjects, but also on the internet.
Two frustrating things about "Googling" anything, is that if it's off the "beaten track" it can be nigh impossible to find. One can find lots of things that lots of people want to know about, but obscure things are a different story. And the second thing is, that in a lot of research I've done, I find that we are only given what someone cared enough to write about, and, it always seems biased from that person's viewpoint. So, that means history is very hard to pin down, FACTUALLY, unless it's not too distantly in the past. The farther back, the harder it gets.

Please visit their websites and thank the wonderful co-hosts for this

November 6 posting of the IWSG! Thank you!

Sadira Stone,

Patricia Josephine,

Lisa Buie-Collard,

Erika Beebe,

C. Lee McKenzie!

 

Autumn has come, but is not over...

Like little colorful fall fairies asleep on the grass...

Leaves on and under pond algae...

Contrasting textures and colors...

My daughter in the yellow of autumn

Carpets of gold...

A dry creek bed with a smattering of leaves...

  Photos by Lisa Buie-Collard

IWSG October Oh Boy

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Oh boy, today crept up on me way too fast! Hence this post is late, but, evidently like me, that is life right now. I haven't lost days like this in a long time and now twice in two weeks I've been off kilter. Okay, so, other than being a bit off, progress is happening in current WIP, so can't complain.
I don't have much to write about this month as am invested in getting this book done by the end of this month, so...on to IWSG!

The October Question of the Month:
It's been said that the benefits of becoming a writer who doesn't not read is that all your ideas are new and original. Everything you do is an extention of yourself, instead of a mixture of you and another author. On the other hand, how can you expect other people to want to read your writing if you don't enjoy reading? What are your thoughts?

My thought are...first, I've never heard of an author who doesn't read! But besides that, I think whether you read while writing or not, we are all influenced in some way by what happens around us in our everyday lives, so reading is only an extention of that. Even writers who don't read, if they exist, are still going to bring to the page what has influenced them in their lives. Voila. Those are my thoughts on the matter. Have a great Halloween everyone!

Please go visit and thank the generous co-hosts for the October 2 posting of the IWSG are Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Mary Aalgaard,  

Madeline Mora-Summonte, and Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor!

Happy fall!

IWSG September - After Summer Blues

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Do you ever feel like a spoiled brat? After this summer I do. Amazingly wonderful summer. Lots of quality time with my husband, two impromptu short vacations together (one to Canada!), a four-day visit to Chicago in August given to me as an early birthday present from my sister, who was also my host and tour guide. (My “big number” birthday is actually this month but we wouldn’t be able to be together on the day so we did it when we both could)

I am spoiled beyond spoiled. I sit at home now, alone with my little dog and think of how lucky I am, and how blessed, and yet am flogging myself with questions about my writing, intentions and otherwise. I am “this close” (finger and thumb held a millimeter apart), to finishing my current WIP, and I’m sick of it. I don’t want to write another word. It feels like too much to finish it. I only wish it was because I was so in love with it that I didn’t want to finish it, but the reality is I’m questioning if I should even keep writing. I make no money. I’m not helping anyone with my writing, and though my husband is ever patient and supportive, I feel I’m letting him down.

So, right now I feel like a brat. A sad brat. A frustrated brat with no “real” reason to feel so depressed. Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated, even if it’s to tell me to get off my arse and finish the book!

September 4 question: 

If you could pick one place in the world to sit and write your next story, where would it be and why?

First, France. Because I have a true love-on for France, especially the Toulouse area. I feel so much more inspired when I'm there, usually. I dream a lot there. I'd also like to be in the Carribean. I think if I had a month next to a soft dreamy beach I could perhaps make it to me, to what I need to write next. Now all I have to do is find that place here, in my home...

The wonderfully awesome co-hosts for the September 4 posting of the IWSG are Gwen Gardner, Doreen McGettigan, Tyrean Martinson, Chemist Ken, and Cathrina Constantiner!

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

 All photos Lisa Buie-Collard

Bridal Veil Falls US

Horseshoe Falls Canada

My hubby, me and our pup Boney at Niagara Falls. Wow. First time in Canada, first time to see the falls.

Hubby and me out on the town. Great sliders here!

My Sis and me at Hamburger Mary's Diva Brunch!

At the Buckingham Fountain in Chicago, my Sis and me.