tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45137026701203637072024-03-27T02:38:06.043-04:00S.A. Larsen, Award-winning author of middle grade & young adult fictionWriter's Alley is Author S.A. Larsen's alleyway to give children's books and their authors a spotlight to shine.S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.comBlogger826125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-21765675533837486902022-07-06T17:27:00.002-04:002022-07-06T17:27:17.765-04:00IWSG ~ Living In A Fictional World<div style="text-align: left;">Hi Everyone! I've been away for a bit. Nothing new to share other than our fourth kiddo graduated from high school. YAY! We can finally put his high school Covid experience behind him. He had a tough time. Other kids had a tough time. I'm sure someone you know of or maybe your kids had a tough time. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When you step back for a minute to get a better view of the past 2 1/2 years, it's not hard to see that we really were all in this together. I hope we never, ever forget that. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Okay, moving on to this month's Insecure Writer's Support Group's (optional) question:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><blockquote><span style="background-color: white;"><blockquote>If you could live in any book world, which one would you choose?</blockquote></span></blockquote></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span><b><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Narnia.</span></span></p></b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Need I say more???</span></span></p></b></span></span></span></div><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/olgagodim.wordpress.com" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"></a></span><p><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHez8kuA0JBfg3lLTyyhsluwlSX2b4wYMSzCJ2S-Q_eHr35O966IKw5EHghxPCCw6R_H0BxgangnrWoeXZVWDV5ePiAO-tJHF4iGtDd6bRLaLaVUvHh3uBp1XDu94-HQIl3i_PBPdwsQugX6-Mrb-VLAtTdVUBDDyRjWMzPK3TcxsjCuySKeryT-Ioww/s1095/68846cdb99a32d7c7753b99831980c91--chronicles-of-narnia-fantasy-books-909285076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="736" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHez8kuA0JBfg3lLTyyhsluwlSX2b4wYMSzCJ2S-Q_eHr35O966IKw5EHghxPCCw6R_H0BxgangnrWoeXZVWDV5ePiAO-tJHF4iGtDd6bRLaLaVUvHh3uBp1XDu94-HQIl3i_PBPdwsQugX6-Mrb-VLAtTdVUBDDyRjWMzPK3TcxsjCuySKeryT-Ioww/s320/68846cdb99a32d7c7753b99831980c91--chronicles-of-narnia-fantasy-books-909285076.jpg" width="215" /></a>No, seriously. When I was really little, I was a night owl. Okay, so I still am. I loved staying up late because that was when my imagination came to life. I'd imagine my bed being a car speeding along the track at a NASCAR race. Or a ship sailing the ocean blue to some far off land yet to be discovered. And, of course, my bed became a magic carpet, where I picked up a dancing monkey, a kangaroo that played poker, and a horse that sang. But the best make believe always came with whatever rested behind my closet door. So when I found out about the wardrobe in Narnia . . . yup, I was done. And then there was all the amazing landscapes and characters and conflicts, not to mention all the Christian metaphors and parallels - this, without a doubt, would be my ideal book world to live in.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">*My second would be WHERE THE WILD THINGS LIVE </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Please join me in thanking our July co-hosts: </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://jlennidorner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">J Lenni Dorner,</a> <a href="https://janetalcorn.com/" target="_blank">Janet Alcorn,</a> <a href="http://www.pjcolando.com/" target="_blank">PJ Colando,</a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOBIoRkc7l93bQ5y1JMb6IGBDkwCoPtVsZJ5gqECydtVD8ujXiWtLXm490oC3okjgtCKA8OgwftIo3_TRag7ehodtEt7qKsWrf0BxDF-100tsmSSiWrNoePmwf5G_gtB-t-59GU9-W-tuh6qp2lRN3nRy2LCvYrrPdkiJQ5jJe3irxC0r0Qjblm9dzQ/s932/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOBIoRkc7l93bQ5y1JMb6IGBDkwCoPtVsZJ5gqECydtVD8ujXiWtLXm490oC3okjgtCKA8OgwftIo3_TRag7ehodtEt7qKsWrf0BxDF-100tsmSSiWrNoePmwf5G_gtB-t-59GU9-W-tuh6qp2lRN3nRy2LCvYrrPdkiJQ5jJe3irxC0r0Qjblm9dzQ/w105-h103/Insecure%20Writers%20Support%20Group%20Badge.jpg" width="105" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html" target="_blank">Link </a><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white;"><br /> <a href="https://jennienzor.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jenni Enzor,</a> and <a href="http://dianeburton.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Diane Burton!</a> </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;">You all are amazing! For more IWSG posts or to join in every month, click on the image. </span><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">What about you? Please share. I'd love to chat! (Been missing everyone.)</span></span></p><p><span style="color: black;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sheri~ </span></span></span><br /></p></b></span></span></span></div>S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-89186024681000690672022-04-06T06:00:00.004-04:002022-04-06T06:00:00.216-04:00IWSG ~ Lah-Lah-LAH<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This next Insecure Writers Support Group <i>optional subject to discuss </i>- basically, a question - is one that I've grown softer on over the last couple of years. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLPvQYfzj2B7pe-Gub2-AVt3KGXiK4Ni9HKtFsM0oGn1BZpt3jJLncstJtEBvBUpskaNGx3WMwxcC7ZV43efXhLajkNojcMPE1ucnVgO7Pz_ex2bbm8Mg4tfwRWIE12AL94E1MgOU8DgI8EPWrk_opxv1YhfnQfwjSv-HfwfayVnHN2IgnVNm5wG6mQ/s500/kisspng-audiobook-videobook-book-sales-club-5b087047727400.2686037815272796874688.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLPvQYfzj2B7pe-Gub2-AVt3KGXiK4Ni9HKtFsM0oGn1BZpt3jJLncstJtEBvBUpskaNGx3WMwxcC7ZV43efXhLajkNojcMPE1ucnVgO7Pz_ex2bbm8Mg4tfwRWIE12AL94E1MgOU8DgI8EPWrk_opxv1YhfnQfwjSv-HfwfayVnHN2IgnVNm5wG6mQ/w194-h194/kisspng-audiobook-videobook-book-sales-club-5b087047727400.2686037815272796874688.png" width="194" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Let's preface the discussion by saying this: Without a doubt, I am an in-the-hand, must-feel-paper, and bask-in-the-scent of a physical book kind of gal. Can't help it. It is what it is. Just like the fact that my eyes are dark blue. But unlike the fact that my eyes are blue, my need of 'feel' for physical reading can expand and grow.<br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Audio books can be super convenient. Like when I'm trying to do two things at once like read and walk the dogs or fold the laundry and get some reading done; listening/reading is pretty handy in the car, too. But again, that's not my preferred way to read a book. We can leave it at I've grown to appreciate the versatility audio books provide. Now saying that leads me into today's optional question:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFpsa9srBP9-Er0558Rfv0QrRsrndq4JbCuEgb0Dfk6oFGAoY_muXLg1pU2NRLDudztDFJ-JT2zg8ybLSGXYy25xLh51mXx0PMTxwYiHeDYoKtdOhABfKgxD3_3w_Q8nvKnJurpSpmgmt5wR38IL_AncNTpVQpv6tD3iWaUks_NW5rS-ho3m_m_QLfA/s500/MarkedBeautyAudioBookL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFpsa9srBP9-Er0558Rfv0QrRsrndq4JbCuEgb0Dfk6oFGAoY_muXLg1pU2NRLDudztDFJ-JT2zg8ybLSGXYy25xLh51mXx0PMTxwYiHeDYoKtdOhABfKgxD3_3w_Q8nvKnJurpSpmgmt5wR38IL_AncNTpVQpv6tD3iWaUks_NW5rS-ho3m_m_QLfA/w228-h228/MarkedBeautyAudioBookL.jpg" width="228" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span><b> <span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;">Have any of your books been made into audio books? If so, what is the main challenge in producing an audiobook?</span></span></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;">Yes, my young adult book Marked Beauty was made into an audio book. I have to say that the process was absolutely fascinating to me. My publisher allowed me to search for possible voice readers from a couple huge databases. So, from an author's POV, I'd have to say that the endless list of voices I listened to began sounding the same after a while. That was the biggest challenge for me. Haha... My publisher's biggest challenge? I'm not sure. I'd have to ask them, which would probably make for an interesting article. I just might do that.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span><br /></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/olgagodim.wordpress.com" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlrFTkaJP6IfChdxzzljvqDXYu6HXsWeI1nBjukYpUGMOsWMhQjzza7vdUlC5-HQ6aSlBS58UMcgPPjuPqovN9nLmZG1rXJgtcsSq5qH7MDZtILW2giRp3hyIot5sn120qjRekldMrpPg/w87-h86/unnamed.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="87" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b><span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html" target="_blank">MORE PARTICIPANTS</a></span></b></span></span><span><b><span> <br /></span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>A huge round of applause goes out to our April co-hosts: </span><span> <b><a _blank="" href="https://joylenebutler.com/” target=">Joylene Nowell Butler,</a> <a href="http://jemimapett.com/blog/" target="_blank">Jemima Pett,</a> <a href="https://www.patriciajosephine.com/blog" target="_blank">Patricia Josephine,</a> <a href="http://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Louise - Fundy Blue,</a> </b>and <b><a href="http://kimlajevardi.com/" target="_blank">Kim Lajevardi!</a></b></span><span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">What about all of you? Like audio books better than physical books? Doesn't matter? And you authors out there: has one of your books been made into an audio book? </span></span></span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">Sheri~ </span> <br /></span></span></b></span></span></div>S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-30556155679017812022-03-03T14:03:00.002-05:002022-03-03T14:03:10.043-05:00<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Much gratitude goes out to this month's <span style="color: #741b47;"><u>Insecure Writer's Support Group</u></span> co-hosts: </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> <a href="https://janetalcorn.com/%E2%80%9Dtarget=" target="_blank">Janet Alcorn</a>, <a href="http://www.patgarciaandeverythingmustchange.com/" target="_blank">Pat Garcia</a>, <a href="http://www.literaryrambles.com/" target="_blank">Natalie Aguirre</a> and <a href="http://thewarriormuse.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Shannon Lawrence</a>! Make sure to hop over to their sites to see what they have to say! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/olgagodim.wordpress.com" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlrFTkaJP6IfChdxzzljvqDXYu6HXsWeI1nBjukYpUGMOsWMhQjzza7vdUlC5-HQ6aSlBS58UMcgPPjuPqovN9nLmZG1rXJgtcsSq5qH7MDZtILW2giRp3hyIot5sn120qjRekldMrpPg/w200-h198/unnamed.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html" target="_blank">MORE PARTICIPANTS</a></span></b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span> </span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This month's IWSG (optional) question is: <span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b style="text-align: center;">Have you ever been conflicted about writing a story or adding a scene to a story? How did you decide to write it or not?</b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b style="text-align: center;"> </b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Although this might seem like an easy question to answer, I really had to think about this one. I don't think I've ever been conflicted about writing a scene in a story; more like should I include such and such in a scene and if I should, when to do it. But that's part of story development, so I don't look at it like a conflict. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">I might categorize my current middle grade WIP as a conflict in itself, though. Most of my stories contain some level of spookiness. My current WIP is/was no exception. I say <i>was </i>because I haven't worked on it in months. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Why? Conflict. Not within the story, but within myself. The story still cries out in all spookiness, but the thread of a faith-based theme began to weave its way through the six chapters I'd written. I tried to fight it and rewrite the chapters, but to no avail. God wants to be heard in this book. This left me <i>conflicted</i> because of all the spooky elements I'd already included. What's appropriate? Is there a conflict with Church doctrine? Where is the audience for such a story? </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">I suppose I could keep the chapters and keep on truckin' forward. The spooky elements do add to tension, mood, and suspense. I'm just unsure how far to go with the spookiness mingled with ponderings about God. <br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Sorry to leave you with such a cliff hanger. Such has been my life since the vid. :) How have all you been doing? Any news you'd like to share here? I'd love to hear it!<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Happy Writing & Reading to you all!</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Sheri~</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: center;"> <br /></b></span></span></div>S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-28011422258526332252022-01-07T12:33:00.005-05:002022-01-07T12:33:59.204-05:00IWSG ~ Regrets<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Dun-Dun-DA!</b> <b>Happy New Year!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are at a brand new year with the first Insecure Writers Support Group's monthly question. Let me dive right in.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">This month's (optional) question: </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b><blockquote>What's the one thing about your writing career you regret the most? Were you able to overcome it? </blockquote></b></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisEqL2JFt2E04D5Yc4Qi0_agNoWwQcujh62fBf3FQ0ZPduuWDU4i18STx0rtTUisFKU029NigWqq0YmYrXkyxCNIZN3ijAsM7VRJn2dNTMYZknSkebLPehgHoA5ErTgWTUPPB1Qf1v54vorty4fv-fCkqJ2K8HjWXYOib1T-4IvqhXwxp7ZpuV2FObHw=s591" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="572" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisEqL2JFt2E04D5Yc4Qi0_agNoWwQcujh62fBf3FQ0ZPduuWDU4i18STx0rtTUisFKU029NigWqq0YmYrXkyxCNIZN3ijAsM7VRJn2dNTMYZknSkebLPehgHoA5ErTgWTUPPB1Qf1v54vorty4fv-fCkqJ2K8HjWXYOib1T-4IvqhXwxp7ZpuV2FObHw=w206-h213" width="206" /></a></span></div><span style="color: black;"><br />What do I regret the most about my writing career? Hmm . . . this is really a hard one for me. You're actually catching me during a valley in my writing - a time where I've been questioning my writing, why I write, but more over what I write. I'll always write for children, but I might be moving from spooky tales to more faith-based story journeys that focus on trying to apply goodness to this crazy world we're currently living in.</span></b></span><p></p><b><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">But regret . . . if I have to give an answer, I'd probably say that I would have listened to my gut and believed in my work sooner than I did. That lack of 'faith' and 'trust' in my abilities sent me running around in circles for some time. It took me until after both my books were published to see that. Maybe this has something to do with the valley of self-bookish reflection I'm currently occupying. </span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/olgagodim.wordpress.com" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlrFTkaJP6IfChdxzzljvqDXYu6HXsWeI1nBjukYpUGMOsWMhQjzza7vdUlC5-HQ6aSlBS58UMcgPPjuPqovN9nLmZG1rXJgtcsSq5qH7MDZtILW2giRp3hyIot5sn120qjRekldMrpPg/w87-h86/unnamed.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="87" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html" target="_blank">MORE PARTICIPANTS</a></span></b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span> <br /></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span>A huge thank you goes out to our <b>January co-hosts:</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> <b><a _blank="" href="https://erikabeebe.com/”target=">Erika Beebe,</a> <a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/olgagodim.wordpress.com" target="_blank">Olga Godim,</a></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b> <a href="http://sandracox.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sandra Cox,</a> </b><a href="http://thefauxfountainpen.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>Sarah Foster</b>,</a> and <b><a href="http://hogwartssabbatical.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Chemist Ken!</a> Want to participate in the IWSG? Click on the link to the right. </b> </span>
</p><p><span style="color: black;">So, writer friends, what's your major regret? Non-writing readers, any regrets in your state of life?</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><br /></span></b></span></p><p><span style="color: black;"> </span></p><p><span style="color: black;">Sheri~ </span> <br /></p></b></span></span></span></div></div>S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-9689727161326215582021-12-16T22:06:00.001-05:002021-12-16T22:06:54.843-05:00IWSG ~ Writing Stresses? I'm late!<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm late! I'm late! For two very important IWSG dates!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8SAjeeW8l6WRRjP39AhHlrvvFT111vlZDaVGmdiqU_bduu3CVuTWWd9NOiflhNio2VTXF3DGBwQJz3o-KE05xkqRTmIYNZma4U3HyTaS_Ns1-mo5WmAIG-xoNZF3plavhzCMBY9vL5ZiR-lKU7YZbmMMyHgvFKMdYFFPVlwAN_zX5ufxj1LkNJ8gIBw=s1024" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="874" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8SAjeeW8l6WRRjP39AhHlrvvFT111vlZDaVGmdiqU_bduu3CVuTWWd9NOiflhNio2VTXF3DGBwQJz3o-KE05xkqRTmIYNZma4U3HyTaS_Ns1-mo5WmAIG-xoNZF3plavhzCMBY9vL5ZiR-lKU7YZbmMMyHgvFKMdYFFPVlwAN_zX5ufxj1LkNJ8gIBw=w187-h219" width="187" /></a></div></b></div><b><br />What's IWSG, you ask?</b> (Feel free to skip to the next bold text if you've read this part before.) </blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>It's a group of writers who lend support, encouragement,
and guidance to each other. Once a month, we share our insecurities
about writing, marketing, and the publishing industry. On occasion, we
also share insecurities or struggles from our daily lives. Want to take
part? Click on the image at the end of my post. We'd love to have you
join us!</span></span></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">I won't bore you with why I missed November's post or why I'm late for December. I will, however, leave you a clue or two at the end of this post. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So . . . here we go: <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>November's question - <span style="color: #0b5394;">What's harder to do, coming up with your book title or writing the blurb? </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That's easy - the blurb! I tend to want to include too much information.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>December's question </b>– <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>In your writing, what stresses you the most? What delights you?</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hmmm . . . I guess what stresses me out the most is that I want to be done with whatever part I'm working on to move on to the next scene (or whatever). I need to enjoy each moment I'm writing instead of wanting to rush. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Most delightful? When I unintentionally tie part of the story to an earlier part of the story and then I'm like 'Yes!'<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlrFTkaJP6IfChdxzzljvqDXYu6HXsWeI1nBjukYpUGMOsWMhQjzza7vdUlC5-HQ6aSlBS58UMcgPPjuPqovN9nLmZG1rXJgtcsSq5qH7MDZtILW2giRp3hyIot5sn120qjRekldMrpPg/w87-h86/unnamed.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="87" /></span></b></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html" target="_blank">MORE PARTICIPANTS</a></span></b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span> </span></b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span> </span></b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span> </span></b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span> </span></b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span> </span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;">A huge thank you goes out to our <b>November co-hosts:</b> <b><a _blank="" href="http://kimlajevardi.com/”target=">Kim Lajevardi,</a> <a href="http://victoriamarielees.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Victoria Marie Lees,</a> <a href="http://joylenebutler.com/blog" target="_blank">Joylene Nowell Butler,</a> <a href="http://erikabeebe.com/" target="_blank">Erika Beebe,</a></b> and <b><a href="http://leelowery.com" target="_blank">Lee Lowery</a> & to our December co-hosts:</b> <b><a _blank="" href="http://www.pjcolando.com/”target=">PJ Colando,</a> <a href="http://dianeburton.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Diane Burton,</a> <a href="http://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Louise – Fundy Blue,</a> <a href="http://www.literaryrambles.com/" target="_blank">Natalie Aguirre,</a></b> and <a href="https://worddreams.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><b>Jacqui Murray</b>!</a>
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote></blockquote></span><div style="text-align: center;"><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote>Wishing you all a <b><span style="color: red;">Merry Christmas!</span></b>🎄</blockquote></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote>May God bless you abundantly throughout the New Year!</blockquote></span></blockquote></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote></blockquote></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Okay, here are my clues: </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Drywall, no kitchen sink, blanket-covered furniture, complete overhaul. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Leave your guess in the comments!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sheri~ </span> <br /></div>S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-57992671312506561692021-10-06T19:10:00.000-04:002021-10-06T19:10:28.311-04:00IWSG~Line In The Sand<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When I began writing and developing stories I leaned on what I knew best, what was most familiar to me, and what I was most knowledgeable about. In my case, that was children. With four of them, I had plenty of material to work with. Thus I began writing picture books - poorly, I might add. But it was a start. I didn't set limits on what themes or topics I chose to write about because I literally was writing from my experiences with my kiddos. Pretty innocent stuff.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But as I improved as a writer and became more read, I moved up the age scale into middle grade and young adult literature. That broadened, not only the age of my characters, but what could affect them in life, what problems they might encounter, and what goals they might develop.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0W-50yPkwe8P8SmgIY1bLshxD3LeUBzv77tX39zuoQp1xQcpYv4gjoErWsFcgBx4tnynQBbOXd6QlE_WsAboSRvaTuIDq3nmr5bS-TZGWxVW1r8pymADu_ZWnHUQAnFLU6THWLijcrjr/s1493/kisspng-silk-floor-white-textile-sand-5a7254b1ca24b2.580971951517442225828.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="1493" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0W-50yPkwe8P8SmgIY1bLshxD3LeUBzv77tX39zuoQp1xQcpYv4gjoErWsFcgBx4tnynQBbOXd6QlE_WsAboSRvaTuIDq3nmr5bS-TZGWxVW1r8pymADu_ZWnHUQAnFLU6THWLijcrjr/s320/kisspng-silk-floor-white-textile-sand-5a7254b1ca24b2.580971951517442225828.png" width="320" /></a></div>Here's where I'll address today's optional IWSG question:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></span><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">In your writing, where do you draw the line, with either topics or language?</span></span></span> </b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Keeping in mind my writing age group, my<i> red line in the sand</i> isn't as close or close-minded as you might think. I would welcome writing about many topics and themes, but I would only continue with a story if I felt well-informed on said topic/theme. My <i>drawn line</i> as far as language is another story. I'm not a fan of using slurs, demonizing or foul language for the sake of spiffing up a scene. However, if (and only IF) the story or character calls for it in reference to development and deepening then I will stretch my consideration some. But even then, I will only use what is essential and not a word more.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Feel free to answer this question in the comments. I'd love to know what your opinion is as both writers and readers.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlrFTkaJP6IfChdxzzljvqDXYu6HXsWeI1nBjukYpUGMOsWMhQjzza7vdUlC5-HQ6aSlBS58UMcgPPjuPqovN9nLmZG1rXJgtcsSq5qH7MDZtILW2giRp3hyIot5sn120qjRekldMrpPg/w87-h86/unnamed.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="87" /></span></b></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html" target="_blank">MORE PARTICIPANTS</a></span></b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span> </span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;">A huge 'thank you' to our co-hosts for this month: <br /><span> <a _blank="" href="http://jemimapett.com/blog/”target=">Jemima Pett,</a> <a _blank="" href="https://jlennidorner.blogspot.com/”target=">J Lenni Dorner,</a> <a href="http://cathrinaconstantine.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Cathrina Constantine,</a> <a href="http://www.ronelthemythmaker.com/blog/" target="_blank">Ronel Janse van Vuuren,</a> and <a href="http://playoffthepage.com/" target="_blank">Mary Aalgaard!</a></span></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span>And if you'd like to read more answers to this question, feel free to click on this image.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thank you for stopping by!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Sheri~</b></span> </span><br /></div>S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-7283815437031669892021-09-01T10:09:00.002-04:002021-09-01T10:09:20.690-04:00<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are at another IWSG discussion to start our month. Can you believe it's September??? Crazy, huh? And our fourth and last child entering his senior year in high school, this is a big year for our family.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On that note, wishing all teachers, librarians, parents, and educators alike a wonderful 2021-22 school year!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So this month's optional question is as follows: </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHs4elEv858ms5RdnH_mbXfHnEDND5eYm6tC9N0NhnqQdYzFU4SwjuoYIlGNx1cBytx5yE3A47wnVa5kDiBz6IEWyw0-YMSrhYYZhLa0fwxBxoGbVSIwGid0fr9bkZCh_qj7g5agSGNrUI/s721/kisspng-library-science-library-classification-librarian-l-ladder-of-success-sea-of-%25E2%2580%258B%25E2%2580%258Bbooks-5a6cb0883c6469.0544781615170725202474.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="589" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHs4elEv858ms5RdnH_mbXfHnEDND5eYm6tC9N0NhnqQdYzFU4SwjuoYIlGNx1cBytx5yE3A47wnVa5kDiBz6IEWyw0-YMSrhYYZhLa0fwxBxoGbVSIwGid0fr9bkZCh_qj7g5agSGNrUI/s320/kisspng-library-science-library-classification-librarian-l-ladder-of-success-sea-of-%25E2%2580%258B%25E2%2580%258Bbooks-5a6cb0883c6469.0544781615170725202474.png" width="261" /></a></div>How
do you define success as a writer? Is it holding your book in your
hand? Having a short story published? Making a certain amount of income
from your writing?</b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Good question. Hmm . . . I'd have to say that over my writing journey this answer has changed. Initially, it was submitting my work, receiving an acceptance, and then seeing my words and thoughts (and my byline) in print. Short story, community-based article, or a recipe in a collection, it really didn't matter. From there I'd have to say it was going through the entire process of receiving offers on my manuscripts, working with editors, creating all the marketing/promo goods, and then receiving my publisher copies in a big box from my favorite UPS or FED-EX peeps! Having an authentic book release party at a library helped that feeling of "I've finally made it as an author!" helped a bit, too. 😁</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But now, after lots of articles, short stories, and a few novels under my belt, my opinion has changed. The finished project is not where the definition of a successful writer comes. It is in the journey taken, the processes adhered to, and the faith to keep forging ahead. It is also in the wisdom to stop and examine if we're on the right path; if we find we are not, it's in the humility to turn around. C.S. Lewis says it best here:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote>"I do not sit down at my desk to put into verse something that is already clear in my mind. If it were clear in my mind, I should have no incentive or need to write about it. We do not write in order to be understood; we write in order to understand."</blockquote></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So I currently define being a successful writer as one who stays the course, seeking knowledge and wisdom and the human condition, in humble ambition to share and explore that through the world of fiction.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlrFTkaJP6IfChdxzzljvqDXYu6HXsWeI1nBjukYpUGMOsWMhQjzza7vdUlC5-HQ6aSlBS58UMcgPPjuPqovN9nLmZG1rXJgtcsSq5qH7MDZtILW2giRp3hyIot5sn120qjRekldMrpPg/w87-h86/unnamed.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="87" /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html" target="_blank">MORE PARTICIPANTS</a></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;">Thank you so much to our amazing co-hosts this month! <br /><span> <b><a _blank="" href="http://www.ninjalibrarian.com/”target=">Rebecca Douglass,</a> <a _blank="" href="http://journalingwoman.blogspot.com/”target=">T. Powell Coltrin @Journaling Woman,</a> <a href="http://www.literaryrambles.com/" target="_blank">Natalie Aguirre,</a> <a href="https://reprobatetypewriter.com/" target="_blank">Karen Lynn,</a></b> and <b><a href="http://www.cleemckenziebooks.com/blog/" target="_blank">C. Lee McKenzie!</a></b><span><b><span> Click on this image to find other participating writers or to join our group!</span></b></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br /></div>S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-90848476344432968642021-07-07T12:44:00.000-04:002021-07-07T12:44:05.506-04:00IWSG ~ I Quit!<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Happy Wednesday, and welcome to another edition of IWSG!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>What's
IWSG, you ask? It's a group of writers who lend support, encouragement,
and guidance to each other. Once a month, we share our insecurities
about writing, marketing, and the publishing industry. On occasion, we
also share insecurities or struggles from our daily lives. Want to take
part? Click on the image at the end of my post. We'd love to have you
join us!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span></span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>This month's question: </span></span></h2><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span> </span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span><b>What would make you quit writing?</b></span></span></span> <br /></span></h3></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsCSdxU3haoK9_g0bAm_5kZ9tpfmoSmZE_WzABoxaSigq0Tbt79tiVtRoESZgVkPykY0ZBO3FnDt7M8anvIdFM8YmRKB9jD_Tvtaa5yeldDUCnNWRtWTQ-O0OjR4FeMdwpPzvloqgIXYb/s398/I+Cant+Even.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="398" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsCSdxU3haoK9_g0bAm_5kZ9tpfmoSmZE_WzABoxaSigq0Tbt79tiVtRoESZgVkPykY0ZBO3FnDt7M8anvIdFM8YmRKB9jD_Tvtaa5yeldDUCnNWRtWTQ-O0OjR4FeMdwpPzvloqgIXYb/w271-h271/I+Cant+Even.png" width="271" /></a></div><br />Hmm . . . </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Honestly, despite the fact that I haven't written a whole heck of a lot since Covid began, I don't think I'll ever fully toss in the towel where writing is concerned. Writing grounds me. It's a way for me to sort through emotions and life's happenings - call it <i>my personal therapy</i>.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Saying that, this is a good opportunity to come clean about the reality of my writing. When my middle grade publisher closed back in April of 2019, saying I was bummed is putting it lightly. But, I picked myself up and forged ahead. Thankfully, my MG book and the sequel were picked up by another publisher. And then Covid hit. Most of us experienced a lot of similar emotions and issues during that time; it's all kind of self-explanatory. For me, it was also a time of self-(re)evaluation. The three major deaths my family experienced in 2019 just prior to Covid, my MG pub closing, my mom's failing health (MS & dementia), and the stresses of owning our own business began to line up like lights on a runway. I found myself asking "Why am I writing? No, really? Is there a greater purpose for my stories and for what I have to say?"</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This question led me back down the spiritual road that God had set me on years ago. I've always loved my faith as a Catholic, but this whole Covid ordeal made me look deeper, made me seriously search for God, for purposes, for lessons I needed to learn to become who He wanted me to be as opposed to the 'who' I thought I should be. I'm not here to talk about faith, but to express the need to find and reinvent my purpose for keeping pen to paper and fingers to the keys instead of quitting. (I mean, I do still have another MG book coming out late this year and a short story in an anthology, and I am working on a new middle grade novel. So no, I'm not quitting. LOL) It's my focus and kind of stories I feel I should be writing that's changed. <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Writers, throughout your writing journey have you discovered the need to reinvent your purpose(s) for writing? </b></span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlrFTkaJP6IfChdxzzljvqDXYu6HXsWeI1nBjukYpUGMOsWMhQjzza7vdUlC5-HQ6aSlBS58UMcgPPjuPqovN9nLmZG1rXJgtcsSq5qH7MDZtILW2giRp3hyIot5sn120qjRekldMrpPg/w87-h86/unnamed.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="87" /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html" target="_blank">MORE PARTICIPANTS</a></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;">Thank you to all our co-hosts for this month! <span> <b><a _blank="" href="http://www.patgarciaandeverythingmustchange.com/”target=">Pat Garcia,</a> <a _blank="" href="http://victoriamarielees.blogspot.com/”target=">Victoria Marie Lees,</a></b> and<b> <a href="http://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Louise – Fundy Blue!</a></b></span><span><b><a href="http://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span></span><span><span></span></span></a> </b></span><span><b><span>Click on this image to find other participating writers or to join our group!</span></b></span></span></div>S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-82056465448729376792021-06-02T06:00:00.001-04:002021-06-02T06:00:00.216-04:00IWSG ~ Drafting Distance + Other Cool Stuff<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Happy Wednesday, Everyone!<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here we are at yet another passing month, which means another Insecure Writers Support Group monthly question. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What's IWSG, you ask? It's a group of writers who lend support, encouragement, and guidance to each other. Once a month, we share our insecurities about writing, marketing, and the publishing industry. On occasion, we also share insecurities or struggles from our daily lives. Want to take part? Click on the image at the end of my post. We'd love to have you join us!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This month's question is: <span style="background-color: white;"><span></span></span></span></h2></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b>For how long do you shelve your first draft, before reading it and
re-drafting? Is this dependent on your writing experience and the number
of stories/books under your belt? </b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b> </b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCNwUSoUYk1L8_07wHaK7kCzGXU8sU5Nko38LG_kTdrl4dcrTukzEayU9rXPCBpnvevj5B6NabitJuMc9R34hdGTgdfbBjbkSAzmHEAoP9br6sf0dTJ3aa3FUoC3hGOaCyk_Xx5aM28b9/s1024/kissclipart-drawer-furniture-filing-cabinet-mail-paper-product-ebe264f6d68ac0eb.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCNwUSoUYk1L8_07wHaK7kCzGXU8sU5Nko38LG_kTdrl4dcrTukzEayU9rXPCBpnvevj5B6NabitJuMc9R34hdGTgdfbBjbkSAzmHEAoP9br6sf0dTJ3aa3FUoC3hGOaCyk_Xx5aM28b9/w278-h278/kissclipart-drawer-furniture-filing-cabinet-mail-paper-product-ebe264f6d68ac0eb.png" width="278" /></a></div><br />I remember when I first began writing. The thought of 'shelving' a manuscript was almost as offensive to me as was eating liver when I was five years old. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b> <br /></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b>Unthinkable.</b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b>But as with all things in life, once we gain experience and experiences wisdom abounds . . . <br /></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>Now, with a few published novels under my belt and a couple on deck to be released, I've come to appreciate the clarity distance provides from a drafted manuscript.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiour7046bnsqTcJZhn_MmhaSY4xcnDAmlrsLrwNNA9euN9_4IuaSTDptIOFPS0709YwQ06k6O5fxyfOTmkCCwdWPOug291looHJe8K2xXo_g286NuX0j-p8Xu2ZfL-6lzB61eeruLaHiZU/s640/PinClipart.com_cooking-clip-art-black_967514.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiour7046bnsqTcJZhn_MmhaSY4xcnDAmlrsLrwNNA9euN9_4IuaSTDptIOFPS0709YwQ06k6O5fxyfOTmkCCwdWPOug291looHJe8K2xXo_g286NuX0j-p8Xu2ZfL-6lzB61eeruLaHiZU/w120-h90/PinClipart.com_cooking-clip-art-black_967514.png" width="120" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>Distance gives me <i>new eyes</i>. Sometimes I find it's also given me a new attitude about a scene, character, or setting I've written about. I'm always amazed at my altered perspective when I read a piece I've allowed to sit for a while. It's kind of like cooking. Over the years, I learned that allowing some dishes to set and simmer, adding spices and other ingredients in time, makes them more flavorful and potent to the pallet. <br /><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h3><span style="font-size: medium;">Other Cool Stuff I Was Talking About:</span></h3></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I might not be posting here often anymore, but I still am a current contributor to a few other sites. Here are a few of my most recent author interviews and even a spooky MG post.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;"> <a href="https://fromthemixedupfiles.com/the-year-i-flew-awayan-interview-with-author-marie-arnold/" target="_blank">I chatted over on @MixedUpFiles</a> with the lovely Marie Arnold about her latest middle grade book THE YEAR I FLEW AWAY. </span></li><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;"> <b>In this magical middle-grade novel, ten-year-old Gabrielle finds out
that America isn’t the perfect place she imagined when she moves from
Haiti to Brooklyn. With the help of a clever witch, Gabrielle becomes
the perfect American — but will she lose herself in the process? Perfect
for fans of HURRICANE CHILD and FRONT DESK</b><span> </span><span> </span> <br /></span></li></ul></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">And then there's my conversation with author <a href="https://fromthemixedupfiles.com/an-occasionally-happy-family-an-interview-with-cliff-burke/" target="_blank">Cliff Burke about his MG book AN OCCASIONALLY HAPPY FAMILY </a>over on @MixedUpFiles.</span></li><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;"> <b>Gordon Korman meets <i>The Great Outdoors </i>in this funny and
moving debut about a boy who goes on a disastrous family vacation
(sweltering heat! bear chases!) that ends with a terrible surprise: his
dad’s new girlfriend. <br /></b></span></li></ul></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Author & Cartoonist Michael Fry <a href="https://fromthemixedupfiles.com/ghosted-interview-with-author-cartoonist-michael-fry/" target="_blank">shared his book GHOSTED</a> with me over on @MixedUpFiles, too!</span></li><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;"> <b>From
the best-selling author of the How to Be a Supervillain series comes
this laugh-out-loud, heavily illustrated story of a shy boy, his
best-friend-turned-ghost, and their bucket list of adventures and dares.
Perfect for fans of the Timmy Failure and Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. <br /></b></span></li></ul></ul><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #04ff00;"><span style="background-color: white;">Psst . . . and if Michael's name looks familiar that's because he's the successful cartoonist of the internationally syndicated comic strip <a href="https://www.gocomics.com/overthehedge">OVER THE HEDGE</a>.</span></span></b></span> </p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;"> Lastly, here's my article where I explored <a href="https://spookymiddlegrade.com/2021/03/22/spooky-poetry-in-middle-grade-books/" target="_blank">Poetry in Middle Grade literature</a>. It was a really fun exercise to research how much poetry is used in MG books!</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span></li></ul><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlrFTkaJP6IfChdxzzljvqDXYu6HXsWeI1nBjukYpUGMOsWMhQjzza7vdUlC5-HQ6aSlBS58UMcgPPjuPqovN9nLmZG1rXJgtcsSq5qH7MDZtILW2giRp3hyIot5sn120qjRekldMrpPg/w87-h86/unnamed.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="87" /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html" target="_blank">MORE PARTICIPANTS</a></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span>Thank you to this month's co-hosts!<span><b><a href="http://leelowery.com" target="_blank"> </a></b></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <b><a _blank="" href="https://jlennidorner.blogspot.com/”target=">J Lenni Dorner,</a> <a _blank="" href="http://thefauxfountainpen.blogspot.com/”target=">Sarah Foster,</a> <a href="http://www.literaryrambles.com/" target="_blank">Natalie Aguirre,</a> <a href="http://leelowery.com" target="_blank">Lee Lowery,</a></b> and </span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://rachnachhabria.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Rachna Chhabria!</a> Click on this image to find other participating writers or to join our group!</span><br /></b></span><p></p><br /><p><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b> SHERI 💖</b></span><br /></p></div>S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-35162841303336146462021-05-17T06:00:00.006-04:002021-05-17T10:30:22.733-04:00#MGlit BAD FAIRY STRIKES AGAIN by Elaine Kaye!<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Happy Monday Morning!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's been a while since I spotlighted a new middle grade release on my blog. So today is a special day because I have Elaine Kaye's next book to share with you! And make sure to scroll to the bottom to enter for your chance to WIN her GIVEAWAY!<span id="docs-internal-guid-7a202012-7fff-659a-0338-50c2f2adbf5a"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7a202012-7fff-659a-0338-50c2f2adbf5a"><span style="background-color: #fcff01;"></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7a202012-7fff-659a-0338-50c2f2adbf5a"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7a202012-7fff-659a-0338-50c2f2adbf5a"><span style="background-color: #fcff01;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7a202012-7fff-659a-0338-50c2f2adbf5a" style="font-size: large;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7a202012-7fff-659a-0338-50c2f2adbf5a"><span style="background-color: #fcff01;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">***NEW RELEASE***99 CENTS***</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-7a202012-7fff-659a-0338-50c2f2adbf5a"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPdWy5PJklFAmHEe27_OjKxOv2uRFNmRQ9TFaxHermBnQlqLdoEdo3UXrfIh4SyfXaZk8uiUgG98iuD7kHptyijug1pQiVtCoHU9tNojZF8D_hvtUtapDENq64_nQnL3A-6a4Iu4SmYk/s640/Bad+Fairy+Strikes+Again+%25283%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="427" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPdWy5PJklFAmHEe27_OjKxOv2uRFNmRQ9TFaxHermBnQlqLdoEdo3UXrfIh4SyfXaZk8uiUgG98iuD7kHptyijug1pQiVtCoHU9tNojZF8D_hvtUtapDENq64_nQnL3A-6a4Iu4SmYk/w321-h480/Bad+Fairy+Strikes+Again+%25283%2529.jpg" width="321" /></a><span id="docs-internal-guid-7a202012-7fff-659a-0338-50c2f2adbf5a" style="font-size: medium;"><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>BAD FAIRY STRIKES AGAIN</b> by <b>Elaine Kaye </b></span></p></span></div></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7a202012-7fff-659a-0338-50c2f2adbf5a" style="font-size: medium;"><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Series: A Bad Fairy Adventure (Book 2)<br />Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy<br />Publisher: The Wild Rose Press<br />Pages: 60 <br />Ages: 7-12 </span></p></span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-7a202012-7fff-659a-0338-50c2f2adbf5a"><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BLURB:</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Will Thistle ever escape the nickname Bad Fairy?</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thistle Greenbud thought the nickname Bad Fairy was behind her, but she can't escape it. Someone is spreading a rumor about her that just isn't true and can ruin all of her hard work in getting into Advanced School. What fairy would do such a thing?</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As if that's not bad enough, Thistle's dad goes missing. Not a single fairy in Tinselville has seen him. He's vanished like pixie dust. Her mom is distraught, and Thistle is worried. Where could he be?</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thistle and the Flutters, along with Dusty and Moss, are on both cases. Can they find out what happened to her dad and solve the Bad Fairy rumor? Thistle hopes so!</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BOOK LINKS:</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fairy-Strikes-Again-Adventure-Book-ebook/dp/B08ZMN8P34/" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> / </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bad-fairy-strikes-again-elaine-kaye/1138984882?ean=2940162222248" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nook</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> / </span><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/bad-fairy-strikes-again/id1561469533" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">iBooks</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> / </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57256480-bad-fairy-strikes-again" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Goodreads</span></a></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">MEET ORLA:</b></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3f8Q_yzg_Ep2tf5Ke8P4gCDo-Np8DmNwU9X0Yw8U-Nh8Em1JRFEAk3RMnfUSBb-dI4RlotBvkp9KghxunLAoK0wJeeKEpsWajyaAhoTSdd-g-CDLvlHWm_smRBY5LICYe4iIZe7tPx9Y/s2048/Orla.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1583" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3f8Q_yzg_Ep2tf5Ke8P4gCDo-Np8DmNwU9X0Yw8U-Nh8Em1JRFEAk3RMnfUSBb-dI4RlotBvkp9KghxunLAoK0wJeeKEpsWajyaAhoTSdd-g-CDLvlHWm_smRBY5LICYe4iIZe7tPx9Y/w309-h400/Orla.jpg" width="309" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-63892169-7fff-10f6-081c-061d0171e9e5" style="font-size: medium;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Name</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Orla</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Role </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">– Thistle’s mom</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hair Color</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Golden-brown</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eye Color</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Honey</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wing Colors</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Yellow and gold</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Favorite Food</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Dandelion salad</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Favorite Drink</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Herbal tea with lots of honey</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Personality</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Gentle, caring, sentimental, sensitive</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Likes</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Knitting, baking cookies, gardening, helping others</span></p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dislikes</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – A messy kitchen and when Thistle zooms through the house</span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><b>MEET HERB:</b></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkofiapm6_WqiXQXL2EB9rXSi78peazN4nifk8O0vaWOiJ7JraWOIHPgpwPwKpkvPYoQpfLFnXR29DtmFNvVARNP-t-cl0CH2xHNTAUQ7bmSh5F8ueUL5BvSsbXFW8HQfXrH097EP0oAU/s764/Herb+Smaller.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkofiapm6_WqiXQXL2EB9rXSi78peazN4nifk8O0vaWOiJ7JraWOIHPgpwPwKpkvPYoQpfLFnXR29DtmFNvVARNP-t-cl0CH2xHNTAUQ7bmSh5F8ueUL5BvSsbXFW8HQfXrH097EP0oAU/w261-h400/Herb+Smaller.jpg" width="261" /></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 19.26px;"> <br /></span></b></span><div><p align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Name</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> – Herb</span></p>
<p align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Role</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> – Thistle’s dad</span></p>
<p align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Hair Color</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> – Black</span></p>
<p align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Eye Color</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> – Black with white specks</span></p>
<p align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Wing Color</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> – Mahogany</span></p>
<p align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Favorite
Food</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> – Cauliflower</span></p>
<p align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Favorite
Drink</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> – Chicory coffee</span></p>
<p align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Personality</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> – Brave, generous, smart but silly</span></p>
<p align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Likes</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> – Working at Sparkles Factory making fairy dust,
going to the Spring festival</span></p>
<p align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Dislikes</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> – Fairies who cause trouble for other fairies</span></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">EXCERPT:</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are nearing the edge our village limits when we see the abandoned house hidden in tall weeds. The night grows darker as we huddle in a fern thicket. “It sure is spooky out here,” Lacey whispers and shifts closer to Moss.</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Let's move in closer,” Dusty says. “Moss and Lacey, you go to the other side of the house. Find a crack in the wall to see inside. Thistle and Rose follow me.” He looks back at Moss. “If you see anything strange, flick your flashlight on and off three times.”</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Then what?” Rose asks, munching on another berry.</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We’ll meet…um…” Dusty looks around and then points. “Over by that fern thicket. Is everyone clear?”</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We nod and fly as low to the ground as we can. Once we reach our positions, we hunker down and wait. Time goes by as slow as a worm while we wait. It gets darker. After a while, boredom creeps in.</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What's that?” Rose points behind us.</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dusty and I turn to see a shadow coming out of the woods, heading straight for us. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Boogles</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">! No, wait. There are two shadows!</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/q09hU-ZQEMM" width="320" youtube-src-id="q09hU-ZQEMM"></iframe></div><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get Book 1 for 99 CENTS!</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkcHRbsGenqy1lOSni5VWcuTnKtxegUv1FgY8FlEoI4b44sHEfjvfaNSKldZtS7nRhZ_re7e30tYJuYRAzNnVGzJJuWqqVdELJUlP8_AaJ5xJHcxSrIpMt_qW057Urczpz1pAbIPst8Ok/s1080/Bad+Fairy+Sale+Image.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkcHRbsGenqy1lOSni5VWcuTnKtxegUv1FgY8FlEoI4b44sHEfjvfaNSKldZtS7nRhZ_re7e30tYJuYRAzNnVGzJJuWqqVdELJUlP8_AaJ5xJHcxSrIpMt_qW057Urczpz1pAbIPst8Ok/w400-h400/Bad+Fairy+Sale+Image.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BAD FAIRY: </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Fairy-Adventures-Book-ebook/dp/B0875RH6N3" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> / </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bad-fairy-elaine-kaye/1136868423?ean=2940162717836" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nook</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> / </span><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/bad-fairy/id1508633351" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">iBooks</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> / </span><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/bad-fairy" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kobo</span></a></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">***GIVEAWAY***</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4EG44lhg4igRTq0WhaMABc3OUEbYCrS5CA5WG_KHiz2eAtkAKrfCMfQtAF5nzQL5XX0NOo1e6qQzJqWAT42FC5lXcNQmqprnu9Oh1R8Paj0yHUAULl9bMUoaDesjhl0ZPHjOd9o2vww/s1080/Giveaway.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1080" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4EG44lhg4igRTq0WhaMABc3OUEbYCrS5CA5WG_KHiz2eAtkAKrfCMfQtAF5nzQL5XX0NOo1e6qQzJqWAT42FC5lXcNQmqprnu9Oh1R8Paj0yHUAULl9bMUoaDesjhl0ZPHjOd9o2vww/w240-h238/Giveaway.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PRIZES: </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3 signed paperback picture books (Pea Soup Disaster, The Missing Alphabet, Slow Poke), three handmade bookmarks, plus a goodie bag and worksheets.</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eligibility:</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> International</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;">GIVEAWAY LINK:</span> </span><a href="https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/76132e0224/" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/76132e0224/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">?</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="76132e0224" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/76132e0224/" id="rcwidget_x6c1xqer" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
</p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ABOUT THE AUTHOR:</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.40073; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHp7xqFEgMbdaOQRFb9lRMSQ6XVzPEVcdqFpd0vcrtL6Ycd29bauT-NzclcxAJrEuUeZ-XkZZL9yKQ06i7OcBrMPZRG3QAr6BzjqjIxuIoLRWYVMMyCXuOoC32nTOcFDx3J1mChRcqUWg/s296/Elaine+Kaye+Author.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="280" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHp7xqFEgMbdaOQRFb9lRMSQ6XVzPEVcdqFpd0vcrtL6Ycd29bauT-NzclcxAJrEuUeZ-XkZZL9yKQ06i7OcBrMPZRG3QAr6BzjqjIxuIoLRWYVMMyCXuOoC32nTOcFDx3J1mChRcqUWg/w196-h207/Elaine+Kaye+Author.jpg" width="196" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Elaine Kaye is the author of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Bad Fairy Adventure </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">series AND</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> A Gregory Green Adventure </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">series. She first created Gregory Green after her son, who loved her homemade pea soup, thus inspiring the story </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pea Soup Disaster</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><p></p><p style="line-height: 1.40073; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kaye has worked as a library assistant and teacher’s assistant in elementary schools in the Sunshine State. She currently lives in Florida, but she has called Michigan; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Okinawa, Japan home. She is a grandmother of three boys.</span></p><div style="text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elaine-Kaye/e/B06X42CV9R" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> / </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16488350.Elaine_Kaye" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Goodreads</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> / </span><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elaine-kaye" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BookBub</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> / </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/elainekayeauthor/" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instagram</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> / </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ElaineKayeAuthor/" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Facebook</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> / </span><a href="https://twitter.com/ElaineKAuthor" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twitter</span></a></span></div></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thank you so much for sharing Thistle's continuing story with us! Wishing you much success, Elaine.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>SHERI</b>~</span><b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span>💖</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div>
S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-32955291370991446492021-05-05T09:47:00.002-04:002021-05-05T09:47:26.258-04:00IWSG ~ Receiving the Unexpected<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span>Here we are at another edition of IWSG monthly question and post! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span>Is it really May, already?<b><br /></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span><b> </b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1__UYIXUFlNKLPqn3DL5ww-AXuilb0UK68fFLhwp9s_6WEqkqidy6Pqd87TWf9jDD_G84PGkeJxTzcRse9U1hCEzXjuWlOXg4uPKTqSNmSmPBl0FWsfIjm32aluK_7b4P1oKtBan09yFK/s789/kisspng-dog-puppy-pet-surprise-pet-puppy-5a7aed563dda44.5007834015180055902534.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="658" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1__UYIXUFlNKLPqn3DL5ww-AXuilb0UK68fFLhwp9s_6WEqkqidy6Pqd87TWf9jDD_G84PGkeJxTzcRse9U1hCEzXjuWlOXg4uPKTqSNmSmPBl0FWsfIjm32aluK_7b4P1oKtBan09yFK/s320/kisspng-dog-puppy-pet-surprise-pet-puppy-5a7aed563dda44.5007834015180055902534.png" /></a></div>Have any of your readers ever responded to your writing in a
way that you didn't expect? If so, did it surprise you?</span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span><b> </b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span>Yeah, that they actually liked it! 😂😂😂</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span>On a more serious side, I guess the response that effected me the most was when I received my first award for one of my novels. In all honesty and humility, I was shocked. Many of the strong points they highlighted about my writing were things I hadn't noticed, like strong character development and my snarky use of humor. I just write that way. LOL</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span>*Side Splat: I've been struggling with my writing since Covid began. It's not from fear, though, but from the realization of how short life is, how precious my family is to me, and how each of us has a purpose here beyond ourselves. I've been concentrating on that, NOT ignoring you all. I will forever keep you in my prayers and well-wishes. Hoping to write a longer post on this at some point in the future. <br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlrFTkaJP6IfChdxzzljvqDXYu6HXsWeI1nBjukYpUGMOsWMhQjzza7vdUlC5-HQ6aSlBS58UMcgPPjuPqovN9nLmZG1rXJgtcsSq5qH7MDZtILW2giRp3hyIot5sn120qjRekldMrpPg/w127-h125/unnamed.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="127" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html" target="_blank">MORE PARTICIPANTS</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span>And a huge 'Thank You' goes out to our co-hosts for this month. Make sure you stop by to pay them a visit, too!<b> </b></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a _blank="" href="https://erikabeebe.com/”target=">Erika Beebe,</a> <a _blank="" href="https://pjcolandoblog.com/”target=">PJ Colando,</a> <a href="https://tonjadrecker.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tonja Drecker,</a> <a href="http://sadirastone.com/" target="_blank">Sadira Stone,</a></b> and<b> <a href="http://cathrinaconstantine.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Cathrina Constantine!</a></b></span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span>So, what about you, fellow writer? Anything a reader mentioned about your writing </span></span></b><b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span>surprise you?</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span><span style="color: #0b5394;">SHERI~</span>💖<br /></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span> </span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span> </span></span></div>S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-2809241513229136792021-04-07T11:24:00.003-04:002021-04-07T11:24:47.590-04:00IWSG~Do You Dare?<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>Welcome to another spotlight of our Insecure Writer's Support Group community! This week, we're asking the question: </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b><br /></b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><h4><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b>Are you a risk-taker when writing? Do you try something
radically different in style/POV/etc. or add controversial topics to
your work? </b></span></span></span></span></span></h4><h4><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b> </b></span></span></span></span></span></h4></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>To address this question, I need to define what I believe the term risk-taker means. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>According to <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/risk-taker" target="_blank">Merriam-Webster</a>, a risk-taker is:</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><span class="sb-0"><span class="dt "><span class="dtText"><blockquote><i>a person who
is willing to do things that involve danger or risk in order to achieve a
goal </i></blockquote><p>Hmm . . . danger is not my forte; however, I am open to stretching my current skills to make them grow. <br /></p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLiUX5INB-6FA58n5-Zz0Te925oTU25uT-drg7DO7gxTX6asgyZUtZo9LYm_4VliqKPKx6ww-ByZGcfZVzud1im7bzLX645ab-6no6T1rzjjwgbx9eutlLAys0P_fGxag_Yct0DtNKW7Hq/s1280/cube-1655118_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLiUX5INB-6FA58n5-Zz0Te925oTU25uT-drg7DO7gxTX6asgyZUtZo9LYm_4VliqKPKx6ww-ByZGcfZVzud1im7bzLX645ab-6no6T1rzjjwgbx9eutlLAys0P_fGxag_Yct0DtNKW7Hq/s320/cube-1655118_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>In my research, I found some common characteristics that risk-takers possess.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Constant learners</b></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Trust their gut</b></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Embrace change</b></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Accept defeat & learn from it</b></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Set high goals</b></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>*somewhat of a gambler</b><br /></span></li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span> <br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>I believe that my evolution as a writer is where any risk-taking has come into play. When I first began writing, I had zero idea who to write. I had zero idea how to structure a paragraph or chapter let alone an entire story. But I wanted to learn. <i>(That covers setting high goals element. And yes, it was a high goal at first. LOL) </i></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span> <br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>And I love continuing to learn. <i>(That covers Constant learner.)</i> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>Embracing change and Accepting defeat/learning from it was the hardest risk-taker characteristic for me to take. And I did so, at first, with my head hung low, my heart in my gut. It was when I separated from my first agent. I was down, but soon realized I wasn't out. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>So I eventually sold both my manuscripts on my own.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><i>(Here's where I embraced my inner gambler.</i>) </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>And with things going so well . . . they soon fell apart, again, with the closing of my middle grade publisher. That was my true defeat. But only until I accepted it, brushed myself off, and learned to read myself better. Which brings me to the final point.<i> (Trusting my gut.)</i><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>I'd say<i> trusting my gut</i> has been the element I've most recently embraced. I might not know the future or the outcome of my decisions, but I do know my-writer-self much better - what I'm willing to do or compromise, what I'm willing to wait for, and what I'm willing to risk. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b> <br /></b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">What about you? Do you trust your gut?</span><br /></b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b> </b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b> </b></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span></span>
</span></span></span>
<div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlrFTkaJP6IfChdxzzljvqDXYu6HXsWeI1nBjukYpUGMOsWMhQjzza7vdUlC5-HQ6aSlBS58UMcgPPjuPqovN9nLmZG1rXJgtcsSq5qH7MDZtILW2giRp3hyIot5sn120qjRekldMrpPg/w127-h125/unnamed.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="127" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html" target="_blank">MORE PARTICIPANTS</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>Thank you goes out to the awesome co-hosts for this posting: <b><a _blank="" href="http://www.pkhrezo.com/blog/”target=">PK Hrezo,</a> <a _blank="" href="http://www.patgarciaandeverythingmustchange.com/ target=">Pat Garcia,</a> <a href="https://sewhitebooks.com/" target="_blank">SE White,</a> <a href="http://www.lisabuiecollard.com/" target="_blank">Lisa Buie Collard,</a> </b>and <b><a href="http://dianeburton.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Diane Burton!</a> You all RAWK!</b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b> </b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: medium;">SHERI~</span> </b></span></span></span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b></b></span></span></span></span></div><b></b></div>S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-51062282650847465402021-03-03T10:31:00.001-05:002021-03-03T10:32:27.503-05:00IWSG~Mount Katahdin & Genres <div style="text-align: left;">Here we are at our third IWSG post of the year. Crazy, right?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've decided to veer from our optional question for a minute to share a little of my recent snowmobiling weekend in Maine.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWxFRoWRN045h0uTltFENHO9OsEU3CQDdOUK2oeg06WvSNaVu63IAStgmS5dF80XDF3pSA3qxpoKJ7eeZ5gbt6Iz0pLkZBxFWh_Lflm8ev9bEzn0-t69b3c6LipHH0xAzpYRXz9QZknmb/s2048/IMG-1129.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWxFRoWRN045h0uTltFENHO9OsEU3CQDdOUK2oeg06WvSNaVu63IAStgmS5dF80XDF3pSA3qxpoKJ7eeZ5gbt6Iz0pLkZBxFWh_Lflm8ev9bEzn0-t69b3c6LipHH0xAzpYRXz9QZknmb/w468-h351/IMG-1129.jpg" title="Mount Katadin" width="468" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>This is MOUNT KATAHDIN</b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYCFGJYO4NVmf6NK4qHPWmrhOoiVwwgoIFHQs4hUq-Wsb8cX7GxrH7jSOF4yjbeRs79aHd_il6d2xgQrMhxTcq9npddKqIf-5FHtVLXFKWaWNKFLwRMNz59WKp0DYRqoW_bN8n77595aw/s2048/IMG-1125.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYCFGJYO4NVmf6NK4qHPWmrhOoiVwwgoIFHQs4hUq-Wsb8cX7GxrH7jSOF4yjbeRs79aHd_il6d2xgQrMhxTcq9npddKqIf-5FHtVLXFKWaWNKFLwRMNz59WKp0DYRqoW_bN8n77595aw/w452-h340/IMG-1125.jpg" width="452" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Here's a few interesting facts. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGRD3_HvTjltKCpcTaOK_qzZHLoInm1OKFNWAR6uciCyIx7ufgEcQHfbJr28AfIgTla9VQ61cATvAgmMcQgCuQTr4DMtQdqBcS2tzaeJKJ2i8du-ZuKt0FRThzyjFF_uArj0wuMOeKOBh/s2048/IMG-1128.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGRD3_HvTjltKCpcTaOK_qzZHLoInm1OKFNWAR6uciCyIx7ufgEcQHfbJr28AfIgTla9VQ61cATvAgmMcQgCuQTr4DMtQdqBcS2tzaeJKJ2i8du-ZuKt0FRThzyjFF_uArj0wuMOeKOBh/w413-h310/IMG-1128.jpg" width="413" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinm5S4RKQApdhwTXliaomXfpgdhzpFq3rn2rf8ocVpSJqsxpfhKUj6mhKh-V26fYtvoD8fJDjqTWpwlc1cSOMYORKddCPDfcVCFqOWr_eptcgIaqcTIyiKtkS-mz21zIf9Oo5l6HdWl_Wm/s2048/IMG-1127.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinm5S4RKQApdhwTXliaomXfpgdhzpFq3rn2rf8ocVpSJqsxpfhKUj6mhKh-V26fYtvoD8fJDjqTWpwlc1cSOMYORKddCPDfcVCFqOWr_eptcgIaqcTIyiKtkS-mz21zIf9Oo5l6HdWl_Wm/w315-h420/IMG-1127.jpg" width="315" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The trails were like highways. Amazing! <br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqgkyFxL4f6L1SIHSXDi3TVQXzr3yOc6AcOsvK3P4EeOw78ufAapVdE6VhvUKayrYNcXxX9P82x7ntpUluXbscQEONDVNRpW-npO4tMOWcgYEt6z-A5KorUZzFMgwoCJRsFNludnLtu7My/s2048/IMG-1161.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1463" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqgkyFxL4f6L1SIHSXDi3TVQXzr3yOc6AcOsvK3P4EeOw78ufAapVdE6VhvUKayrYNcXxX9P82x7ntpUluXbscQEONDVNRpW-npO4tMOWcgYEt6z-A5KorUZzFMgwoCJRsFNludnLtu7My/w325-h454/IMG-1161.jpg" width="325" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lastly, here we are in front of Mount Katahdin.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h3><span style="background-color: white;">This IWSG optional question is: </span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white;">Everyone
has a favorite genre or genres to write. But what about your reading
preferences? Do you read widely or only within the genre(s) you create
stories for? What motivates your reading choice?</span></b></span></span></span></h3></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I tend to gravitate to romance and/or character based stories and also middle grade fantasy, adventure, and coming of age stories - all are what I write. But I'm always open to reading any story if it's well-written and enticing. I also like to read articles and short stories that are completely out of my norm. Sometimes I purposefully pick up books like that as well, using them to challenge myself through content, structure, craft, and technique. I always learn something knew when I do that, so I'd totally recommend it.</span></span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">One last thing, I'd love for you to meet the newest member of our family - <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>ASHER</b></span>! He's a nine-week-old German Shepherd puppy and new little brother to our current two-year-old GSD Sadie.</span></span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></b></span></span></div><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></b></span></span><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></b></span></span><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"></span></b></span></span><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"></span></b></span></span><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"></span></b></span></span><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></b></span></span><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" dir="rtl" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1463" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYTGv7gUhKTo2GbBhMCloxia0eSbe8jMN4I8dw4rGPUBoAaoe1b6cI9ZHhzrCflwpMHlQLXWqKcMitREMnir7wYpBL2YjGoTHLJzbcZp67rmLvC12aCP3-VEe2R-J4cxxOMy6AfalXupD/w143-h199/IMG-1183.jpg" width="143" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8LosiVrV6B3x7q4YXMx0bkTYdRRXvEtSMrdT2rF4kKOxa8bOUN_Z3yymOC6lLEo-2Rn5SG1NO5E7dJWBHE_36EMBjXLUXYp3e4ASKbH9-hXCAWgUsA9SdOxkd8AyDtr-3T_fU4jNSnWT/s1544/Asher-Face.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1544" data-original-width="1103" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8LosiVrV6B3x7q4YXMx0bkTYdRRXvEtSMrdT2rF4kKOxa8bOUN_Z3yymOC6lLEo-2Rn5SG1NO5E7dJWBHE_36EMBjXLUXYp3e4ASKbH9-hXCAWgUsA9SdOxkd8AyDtr-3T_fU4jNSnWT/w143-h200/Asher-Face.jpg" width="143" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYTGv7gUhKTo2GbBhMCloxia0eSbe8jMN4I8dw4rGPUBoAaoe1b6cI9ZHhzrCflwpMHlQLXWqKcMitREMnir7wYpBL2YjGoTHLJzbcZp67rmLvC12aCP3-VEe2R-J4cxxOMy6AfalXupD/s2048/IMG-1183.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1463" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQuQpWWNwywcIbd0A4uKTyaV8xhY2OcSyDf-W4HmOjKI6IxWq4_edw-TO4sm_ft5m4sQZeIms7SVOm70Nl0uqOak1w-vmblDAHSNkhcawYoICIBs3PBD-aVtK3aUU7gbdX-WOTyyAdARqd/w126-h176/IMG-1187.jpg" width="126" /></a><br /></div></div></span></b></span></span><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Have an amazing month, everyone! </span></span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwsBdvQwy9_dgFzu5PRF2F13LaB-1kJlVKAizsjQW6oiRNPU-qnnBl7CGRMIJ0YclEvqVi_YwyoYswvleOtW6wxsfmK1iz6LQMJpykaMRobstJQOqgMCCRnk7058tIRQHVxhxxdCj-6LI/s114/rsz_1boarder.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="43" data-original-width="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwsBdvQwy9_dgFzu5PRF2F13LaB-1kJlVKAizsjQW6oiRNPU-qnnBl7CGRMIJ0YclEvqVi_YwyoYswvleOtW6wxsfmK1iz6LQMJpykaMRobstJQOqgMCCRnk7058tIRQHVxhxxdCj-6LI/s0/rsz_1boarder.png" /></a><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlrFTkaJP6IfChdxzzljvqDXYu6HXsWeI1nBjukYpUGMOsWMhQjzza7vdUlC5-HQ6aSlBS58UMcgPPjuPqovN9nLmZG1rXJgtcsSq5qH7MDZtILW2giRp3hyIot5sn120qjRekldMrpPg/s932/unnamed.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlrFTkaJP6IfChdxzzljvqDXYu6HXsWeI1nBjukYpUGMOsWMhQjzza7vdUlC5-HQ6aSlBS58UMcgPPjuPqovN9nLmZG1rXJgtcsSq5qH7MDZtILW2giRp3hyIot5sn120qjRekldMrpPg/w127-h125/unnamed.jpg" width="127" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html" target="_blank">More Participants</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /> <span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Major Kudos goes out to our co-hosts for the month of March: </span></span></span></span></b></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> <b><a href="http://thefauxfountainpen.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen</a> <a href="https://worddreams.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Jacqui Murray,</a> <a href="http://hogwartssabbatical.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Chemist Ken,</a> <a href="http://victoriamarielees.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Victoria Marie Lees,</a> <a href="http://www.literaryrambles.com/" target="_blank">Natalie Aguirre,</a> and <a href="http://www.jqrose.com/" target="_blank">JQ Rose!</a></b> </span></span></span></div></div></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-18318533834693234332021-02-03T09:43:00.001-05:002021-02-03T09:44:03.033-05:00It's World Read Aloud Day!<div style="text-align: left;">Here we are at our second Insecure Writer's Support Group post of the year. Don't know what IWSG is? Have no fear. Click on the image below to find out how to participate and to read other posts today.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I do want to give a major shout-out to this month's co-hosts because without you this day wouldn't run as smoothly as it does. Thank you!<span style="font-size: small;"> <span> <a href="http://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> Louise - Fundy Blue ,</a> <a href="http://jenniferlanebooks.com" target="_blank">Jennifer Lane,</a> <a href="http://playoffthepage.com/" target="_blank">Mary Aalgaard,</a> <a href="https://womagwriter.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Patsy Collins at Womagwriter,</a> and <a href="https://nancygideon.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Nancy Gideon!</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've decided to forgo this month's optional question to share something special with you! But please, feel free to share your answer with me in the comments to this month's optional question: <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"> <br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b> </b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b>Blogging
is often more than just sharing stories. It’s often the start of
special friendships and relationships. Have you made any friends through
the blogosphere? </b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b> </b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>Okay, so I fibbed. A little. I have to answer this question. Yes, yes, & YES! I've been blogging for over 10 years now, and it has afforded me some of the most amazing and cherished friendships of my life. And it doesn't matter where our writing journeys have taken us. Some of us are still writing full-time; others have cut to part-time or moved on to other endeavors. None of that matters. We will forever be linked as writing sojourners in the land of the blogosphere and friends forever.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5hfw5vVTAgYCt1XfdIrpZZulOcalIoq2RhJtZkVKtJsf3XMjT5deWgYommuDK73bbIMGrvKE_06IbkO7mJ_6_SS2TWWegFPfkXp7Eto84CdjwOShF1hjwlX5sDsd3DzX7LsrKkWgUiX9/s940/It%2527s.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5hfw5vVTAgYCt1XfdIrpZZulOcalIoq2RhJtZkVKtJsf3XMjT5deWgYommuDK73bbIMGrvKE_06IbkO7mJ_6_SS2TWWegFPfkXp7Eto84CdjwOShF1hjwlX5sDsd3DzX7LsrKkWgUiX9/s320/It%2527s.png" width="320" /></a></div>So, my share today is - IT'S WORLD READ ALOUD DAY!!! </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>Many of us, especially those who write for younger children, middle schoolers, and high school students, will spend this day online visiting classrooms and groups of students! We share who we are and read to students. We read from our own work as well as those we admire or those books we'd like to recommend to the kids. It's a wonderful time for all.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>Say a little prayer for me to get through this day. (Students are exhausting, but super fun!) I'll say a prayer for you, too!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span> </span></span></span></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlrFTkaJP6IfChdxzzljvqDXYu6HXsWeI1nBjukYpUGMOsWMhQjzza7vdUlC5-HQ6aSlBS58UMcgPPjuPqovN9nLmZG1rXJgtcsSq5qH7MDZtILW2giRp3hyIot5sn120qjRekldMrpPg/s932/unnamed.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlrFTkaJP6IfChdxzzljvqDXYu6HXsWeI1nBjukYpUGMOsWMhQjzza7vdUlC5-HQ6aSlBS58UMcgPPjuPqovN9nLmZG1rXJgtcsSq5qH7MDZtILW2giRp3hyIot5sn120qjRekldMrpPg/w127-h125/unnamed.jpg" width="127" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html" target="_blank">More Participants</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Many Blessings,<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b> </b></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="145" data-original-width="290" height="65" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVFtocFcnS4JRX1N1Ci4MY-or2iMgSEhLhWpo5_LWDNxeM6lbYLkob4Px_Og2I3_s-W0kwJqJ4ov5AurOk3_-gzMO7y0OGuGbEPpg3emE-C78zrPxzrD5Q5T2YHEEHYeuK-nLhc-0kPpq/w130-h65/Sheri.png" width="130" /></b></span></span></p></b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span> </span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span></span></span></span></span>S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-78706625415824373532021-01-06T06:00:00.005-05:002021-01-06T06:00:02.663-05:00IWSG~Do You Finish The Book or Put It Down?<div style="text-align: left;">Happy New Year!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Knowing that, for most people, Covid put a huge damper on any New Year's celebrations, I still have to ask - Did you do anything special, anyway? How did you ring in this new year?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Me - my hubby and I went out to dinner with friends and called it an early night, thankful that we could go out at all.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">🦋🦋🦋</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Moving forward, the IWSG (optional) monthly question is an intriguing one. I really had to think about this one.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqO6OciCQgIRy-pg25CO2p7ghXpdG3UPoRiPPLrgJzm7Wvy5QioA-mVSzGhS9a3Z5_ji8mW4eN59Fd9AMC0JxoJ29gnuE7AD_aBPzf5KvARksUuS6_ZeimtstN9McR_Q7H1N_YOk4dPsU/s1069/girl-3421489_1920.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="1069" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqO6OciCQgIRy-pg25CO2p7ghXpdG3UPoRiPPLrgJzm7Wvy5QioA-mVSzGhS9a3Z5_ji8mW4eN59Fd9AMC0JxoJ29gnuE7AD_aBPzf5KvARksUuS6_ZeimtstN9McR_Q7H1N_YOk4dPsU/w294-h235/girl-3421489_1920.jpg" width="294" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/darksouls1-2189876/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=3421489">Enrique Meseguer</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=3421489">Pixabay</a>">Image Credit</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b><p> </p><blockquote>Question: <span style="color: #0b5394;">Being a writer, when you're reading someone else's work,
what stops you from finishing a book/throws you out of the
story/frustrates you the most about other people's books?</span></blockquote></b><b></b> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span> </span></p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>To even ponder an answer to this question, I literally had to search through my bookshelves to jog memories of books that made me pause at inopportune times or that I couldn't finish. In all honestly, for the most part, I usually finish every book I start.</span><p></p></span></span></span><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>I feel like I owe it to the author to forge through to the end. Being a writer, I understand the accomplishment of writing an entire novel - *like most of you.</li><li>I owe it to the story to see where it journeys, to follow the twists and turns of the character arcs.</li></ol><p>As far as frustration while reading a book, I guess I might have a bit of apprehension for those books that jump around the story a little too much. What's too much? Hmm...like most else in reading and writing, that is subjective. For me, it's when I flip to the next page and can't remember the character, problem, or (short-term) goal of the story thread. So when I have to flip back a few chapters to <i>refresh </i>my memory. </p><p>On the other hand, that might not be the writer's fault. I am getting older, you know... :) <br /></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlrFTkaJP6IfChdxzzljvqDXYu6HXsWeI1nBjukYpUGMOsWMhQjzza7vdUlC5-HQ6aSlBS58UMcgPPjuPqovN9nLmZG1rXJgtcsSq5qH7MDZtILW2giRp3hyIot5sn120qjRekldMrpPg/s932/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="932" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlrFTkaJP6IfChdxzzljvqDXYu6HXsWeI1nBjukYpUGMOsWMhQjzza7vdUlC5-HQ6aSlBS58UMcgPPjuPqovN9nLmZG1rXJgtcsSq5qH7MDZtILW2giRp3hyIot5sn120qjRekldMrpPg/w127-h125/unnamed.jpg" width="127" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html" target="_blank">More Participants</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Offering up a warm 'thank you' to all this month's co-hosts <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">- </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <a href="http://www.ronelthemythmaker.com/blog/" target="_blank">Ronel Janse van </a></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.ronelthemythmaker.com/blog/" target="_blank">Vuuren ,</a> <a href="https://jlennidorner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">J Lenni Dorner,</a> <a href="http://gwengardner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Gwen Gardner</a> <a href="http://sandracox.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sandra Cox,</a> and <a href="http://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Louise - Fundy Blue!</a></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>What about you? Anything about a book make you put it down or quit reading it?</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b> </b></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="145" data-original-width="290" height="65" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVFtocFcnS4JRX1N1Ci4MY-or2iMgSEhLhWpo5_LWDNxeM6lbYLkob4Px_Og2I3_s-W0kwJqJ4ov5AurOk3_-gzMO7y0OGuGbEPpg3emE-C78zrPxzrD5Q5T2YHEEHYeuK-nLhc-0kPpq/w130-h65/Sheri.png" width="130" /></b></span></span></p></b></span></span></span></span></div>S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-13290167180628309252020-12-04T10:34:00.001-05:002020-12-04T11:05:19.837-05:00IWSG ~ Endings and Beginnings<div style="text-align: left;">With every ending comes a new beginning.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This can be applied to every aspect of our lives from friendships, employment, projects, preferences, and relationships to the actual rising and setting of the sun. Some elements in our lives can come to such a sudden end it can even feel like death has stolen them away.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYvmFZ_hPOtrbYh7Vg3L0Xy0_VVXTJu5yUueP7I6DfdPKQgpY26MZzRZY8RQeMkUaiKQEIZhL17VQQ_H1EX23Vc3FeMi3X2DdEfWATah_lmNivIQV4bzciadnZIhoI9T07OrX48IOqC5W/s1080/Christmas+Photo+2020+Blog.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYvmFZ_hPOtrbYh7Vg3L0Xy0_VVXTJu5yUueP7I6DfdPKQgpY26MZzRZY8RQeMkUaiKQEIZhL17VQQ_H1EX23Vc3FeMi3X2DdEfWATah_lmNivIQV4bzciadnZIhoI9T07OrX48IOqC5W/s320/Christmas+Photo+2020+Blog.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">But the hope we live in is that <i>Death</i> has no power of over us, no matter what type of death, that we can always begin anew. "That all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to <i>His</i> purpose." (Romans 8:28)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is my humble prayer for all of you. 2020 has not been kind to us. We were all at a specific place January 1st, 2020. We're not there, anymore. Even though it might be hard to see, we have grown. I choose to reflect on all I've been through and all that 🇺🇸<i> We The People</i> 🇺🇸 have had to endure during this year, and then where I am now. I pray that 2021 brings strength, hope, and kindness and that I can be a light of that goodness for others.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My best wishes and prayers go out to you all. Stay safe and healthy as we approach the new year.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Merry Christmas🎄✝️🎄,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVFtocFcnS4JRX1N1Ci4MY-or2iMgSEhLhWpo5_LWDNxeM6lbYLkob4Px_Og2I3_s-W0kwJqJ4ov5AurOk3_-gzMO7y0OGuGbEPpg3emE-C78zrPxzrD5Q5T2YHEEHYeuK-nLhc-0kPpq/s290/Sheri.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="145" data-original-width="290" height="65" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVFtocFcnS4JRX1N1Ci4MY-or2iMgSEhLhWpo5_LWDNxeM6lbYLkob4Px_Og2I3_s-W0kwJqJ4ov5AurOk3_-gzMO7y0OGuGbEPpg3emE-C78zrPxzrD5Q5T2YHEEHYeuK-nLhc-0kPpq/w130-h65/Sheri.png" width="130" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>PS: Obviously I haven't been posting here nearly as much as I used to, but I have been posting. As part of both spookymiddlegrade.com and From The Mixed-Up Files . . . of Middle Grade Authors, I am posting regularly. <a href="https://fromthemixedupfiles.com/eleanor-alice-the-roosevelt-ghosts-an-interview-with-author-dianne-salerni/" target="_blank">HERE'S my latest post</a> for MUF - an interview with our friend and fellow middle grade author Diane Salerni. Make sure to enter her giveaway for your chance to WIN a signed copy of her latest release ELEANOR, ALICE, & THE ROOSEVELT GHOSTS! <br /></p><p>A huge thank-you goes out to this month's IWSG co-hosts: <span><span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" href="https://jemifraser.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><a href="https://jemifraser.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jemi Fraser</a>,</span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"> </span></span></span><span><span><a href="http://kimlajevardi.com/" target="_blank">Kim Lajevardi,</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"> </span></span></span><span><span><a href="http://lgkeltner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">L.G Keltner,</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"> </span></span></span><span><span><a href="http://tyreanswritingspot.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tyrean Martinson,</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"> </span></span></span><span><span>and</span><span> </span></span><span><a href="http://rachnachhabria.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Rachna Chhabria!</a></span></p><p>Want more IWSG posts? Click on the image for more participants!</p><p><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="98" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGLtL3CpveuSObWjY6_M4l7J9FUTAlRpiw6agvYP4fWSrjzbEhZvOLjNmaobkBOg1z98zNtIsSbyNx5PWT8ED3iJq9wSHGBDdBEj_vYsYI6ZkofopzZlb2ntETqEr2hsL0STmegx0kYsI/s0/IWSG_Logo.jpg" /></a></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-64161019558050825982020-11-04T10:51:00.007-05:002020-11-04T10:51:54.515-05:00IWSG ~ Why I Write<div style="text-align: left;">We've come to yet another IWSG posting day. I'd like to thank this month's co-hosts - <span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://jemifraser.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jemi Fraser,</a> <a href="http://kimlajevardi.com/" target="_blank">Kim Lajevardi,</a> <a href="http://lgkeltner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">L.G Keltner,</a> <a href="http://tyreanswritingspot.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tyrean Martinson,</a> and <a href="http://rachnachhabria.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Rachna Chhabria</a></span></span> </span> - for all their efforts!<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've decided to answer this month's optional question.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXk06idxiguogPbPDFF5w1X20mSypL4qODjs7HXbvJ94ICUynrE-99EpMoVNIO9GBf7ZDHVFs-xEkUYMjT39HpPG9BcCNr6dbTeY7dXSEzMaKh9EL67afm9q4uw9pFexwNEjdfZPWEXqT2/s930/Write.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="930" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXk06idxiguogPbPDFF5w1X20mSypL4qODjs7HXbvJ94ICUynrE-99EpMoVNIO9GBf7ZDHVFs-xEkUYMjT39HpPG9BcCNr6dbTeY7dXSEzMaKh9EL67afm9q4uw9pFexwNEjdfZPWEXqT2/w320-h211/Write.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Albert Camus once said, “The purpose of a writer is to
keep civilization from destroying itself.” Flannery O’Conner said, “I
write to discover what I know.” Authors across time and distance have
had many reasons to write. </b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b> </b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b>Why do you write what you write? </b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b> </b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="color: black;">As I was searching my heart for this answer, I realized that I have numerous reasons for writing. Some reasons have been with me from the beginning, while others have evolved, changed, and grown as I've moved forward as a published author.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="color: black;">When I first began writing, I did it as a teeny vacation from my main life job as a stay-at-home mother, raising my four children. I eventually grew a true love for writing that forged me into thinking I could/would/should, just might be able to learn this craft for a greater purpose. Then I completed my first short story, and it got published. And then my first novel, which also got published. Through all of this, I also experienced and grew to need the amazing folks in our writing community.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="color: black;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGLtL3CpveuSObWjY6_M4l7J9FUTAlRpiw6agvYP4fWSrjzbEhZvOLjNmaobkBOg1z98zNtIsSbyNx5PWT8ED3iJq9wSHGBDdBEj_vYsYI6ZkofopzZlb2ntETqEr2hsL0STmegx0kYsI/s100/IWSG_Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="98" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGLtL3CpveuSObWjY6_M4l7J9FUTAlRpiw6agvYP4fWSrjzbEhZvOLjNmaobkBOg1z98zNtIsSbyNx5PWT8ED3iJq9wSHGBDdBEj_vYsYI6ZkofopzZlb2ntETqEr2hsL0STmegx0kYsI/s0/IWSG_Logo.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html" target="_blank">Participants</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>So in short, I write for the friendships and support I receive and give, for the need to push myself beyond my comfort zone and challenge my physical, mental, and spiritual growth, and for the blessing (and the honor) of being in a position to help, comfort, and influence others by the stories I tell.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><b><span style="color: black;">What about you? Do you write? Why do you do it? </span> <br /></b></span></span></span></span></span></div>S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-67942946971466117432020-10-07T06:00:00.001-04:002020-10-07T06:00:03.184-04:00IWSG ~ Definition of a Working Writer<div style="text-align: left;">I feel like it's been forever since I've chatted with you. Back in the days when I had no worries - writerly speaking - other than writing posts and blogging, I can remember being so excited to scan everyone's blog posts to converse.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I miss that. And I'm sorry I haven't been around much. Like most of you, the world's current situation has jumbled up a lot. But it's also been an important time of self-reflection, life pondering, and a deepening in my faith in God. All this is necessary, and we so often allow ourselves to get distracted by the business of our lives that we neglect what is truly worthy of our time and attention.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This all plays into today's IWSG monthly question: <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8nnlkjmYOX6aMO8BWHwLT3AsHyFUgEwnhJVZhO1cr3iHHn1Kl9cQZuestENbVg7PS7dWMRZBOiUWceO5BvzYT5wubKCDSedBaVX_M30YH9iNMbzltpUMqimexiLOGgWZ_wsx7pCFC3nT/s650/kisspng-cover-letter-rsum-writing-curriculum-vitae-technical-communication-contact-5bd62dedb498f1.3086507915407631177397.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="650" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8nnlkjmYOX6aMO8BWHwLT3AsHyFUgEwnhJVZhO1cr3iHHn1Kl9cQZuestENbVg7PS7dWMRZBOiUWceO5BvzYT5wubKCDSedBaVX_M30YH9iNMbzltpUMqimexiLOGgWZ_wsx7pCFC3nT/w209-h192/kisspng-cover-letter-rsum-writing-curriculum-vitae-technical-communication-contact-5bd62dedb498f1.3086507915407631177397.png" width="209" /></a></div><br />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? </span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="color: black;">The term working writer is an evolution of each writer in their own right; at least, that is what I've come to believe from my own author experience. Whether you're self-published or traditionally published, with a large or small publisher, agented or going it alone, each time you sit to write you are a working writer. The results may be fast or slow, easy or hard, but those writing times will always come with interruptions - even for those without an outside job or other major responsibilities. Some interruptions could be considered a writing break, while others end up being hours or even days because of life duties beyond (and above - like family) writing.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="color: black;">None of that makes you less of a working writer. WE need to think of our writing journeys like our life journeys - WE are a continual work in progress in both.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="color: black;">Many blessings to you all and happy writing, <i>you working writer you</i>! :)</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKn1nGfDY3k0y2XO2BYkvxk8i73mUFjc1FEu8e7gd4cFhiuy166393jEfoqtvN0sR8pCwd_pI1NAZMs3HugFeSVqGLxTBX-UjPZm-DcjCQTUI1YAzlhAM6v3vWuqvcw1ajJ9TjHqXDMJsl/s145/rsz_sheri.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="73" data-original-width="145" height="52" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKn1nGfDY3k0y2XO2BYkvxk8i73mUFjc1FEu8e7gd4cFhiuy166393jEfoqtvN0sR8pCwd_pI1NAZMs3HugFeSVqGLxTBX-UjPZm-DcjCQTUI1YAzlhAM6v3vWuqvcw1ajJ9TjHqXDMJsl/w103-h52/rsz_sheri.png" width="103" /></a></div><br /> </span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="color: black;">Thank you to this month's IWSG co-hosts: </span></span></span></span><br /></span></span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://jemimapett.com/blog/" target="_blank">Jemima Pett,</a> <a href="https://bethandwriting.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Beth Camp,</a> <a href="http://beverlystowemcclure.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Beverly Stowe McClure,</a> and <a href="http://gwengardner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Gwen Gardner!</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; 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Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-36899870714759408092020-08-19T08:51:00.001-04:002020-08-19T08:51:57.770-04:00A Must See YA Boxset ~ Wielder's Storm Trilogy!I've been less than a blogger over the past year, and that's being generous. But that's a post for another time. Today, I have exciting news for you. Our very own<b> Lynda R. Young aka <a href="http://www.ellecardy.com/" target="_blank">Elle Cardy</a> </b>just released the most gorgeous boxset of her trilogy Wielder's Storm! <div wfd-id="38"><br /></div><div wfd-id="14">Let's take a peek . . .<div wfd-id="37"><br /></div><div wfd-id="15"><div wfd-id="34"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcM_TLl39A5j-pFB0Zd-fA3RBjOkx7doDjBYTJVfTw5CVFtNzg41G1PhVUiuC-MIzJhbtJQCAYHn9Y0oBlH2f0OuKuWkZUiuvIR0tvoXBJ4clvQcYILehimS8KtM0R67AKngL6xMXQGAT/s800/Wielder%2527s+StormBoxSet_800.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="663" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcM_TLl39A5j-pFB0Zd-fA3RBjOkx7doDjBYTJVfTw5CVFtNzg41G1PhVUiuC-MIzJhbtJQCAYHn9Y0oBlH2f0OuKuWkZUiuvIR0tvoXBJ4clvQcYILehimS8KtM0R67AKngL6xMXQGAT/s640/Wielder%2527s+StormBoxSet_800.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FW5JYNY" target="_blank"><b>FREE </b>on Kindle Unlimited - Amazon</a> | <a href="https://www.ellecardy.com/" target="_blank">Website</a></span><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;" wfd-id="36">Whoa . . . I normally don't include an image this large in my posts, but I had to. Doesn't the cover hold an urgency about it that makes you just have to read?!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;" wfd-id="35"><br /></div><b>Here's the description:</b></div><div wfd-id="33"><br /></div><div wfd-id="32">The Wielder's Storm Trilogy is an action-packed epic fantasy that will sweep you across the high seas on a thrilling adventure full of exciting twists.</div><div wfd-id="31"><br /></div><div wfd-id="30"> This complete box set contains Wielder’s Prize, Wielder’s Curse and Wielder’s Fire.</div><div wfd-id="29"><br /></div><div wfd-id="28"><b>Wielder’s Prize</b></div><div wfd-id="27">Snatched for what she isn’t. Hunted for what she is.</div><div wfd-id="26">Despite having an abusive cook as a father, Jasmine wouldn’t change her life on the high seas for anything—until that life is shattered. When she’s snatched from the only home she’s ever known and forced to crew a different ship, she learns a terrible truth. She is an untrained magic wielder who is a threat to everyone if she can’t control her power. But she’s not the only out-of-control wielder on the high seas, and the secret of that wielder could change everything she thought she knew—if she can survive.</div><div wfd-id="25"><br /></div><div wfd-id="24"><b>Wielder’s Curse</b></div><div wfd-id="23">A dark vision. A dangerous curse. A fierce girl caught in between.</div><div wfd-id="22">Jasmine thought her adventures were over, but terrifying visions continue to haunt her. When a loved one’s life is threatened, she risks everything to hunt down the would-be assassin. What she finds is not what she expected. Too late, she realizes she’s endangered the ship and crew. On the run, she is pursued across the high seas to an unknown land. If she can’t master her power, she won’t be able to protect anyone. If she can’t accept help, then she could turn into something worse than the thing that hunts her.</div><div wfd-id="21"><br /></div><div wfd-id="20"><b>Wielder’s Fire</b></div><div wfd-id="19">Jasmine’s secrets have been laid bare, her magic stripped. All she has left is a fire in her soul to defeat the oncoming storm.</div><div wfd-id="18">Shipwrecked on a forsaken island, Jasmine has nothing but her anger and determination to keep her warm at night. Without her magic, she must find a way to defeat a powerful enemy that can raze townships and summon sea monsters. When she discovers an ancient magic, she embraces it. But it may not be all it seems, and she could be exchanging one sword to the throat for another.</div><div wfd-id="17"><br /></div><div wfd-id="16"><i>For fans of Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo, who love exciting tales with dark secrets and unexpected twists. Lose yourself today in Elle Cardy’s epic fantasy adventure.</i></div></div></div><div wfd-id="6"><div wfd-id="12"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;" wfd-id="13"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8cqKWrxCjn1v8px5lT-F1FgKLrSaeH6DkrNvG4PCJL8-mszkpUvXAum5u1KARHLLCvdXWX4GC5JOwbfQscs02ZhBiKlZaoRAZ8VKQsrsxWWu91vGciL7EYYG-iykSu5TcAg0NlE4ivMe/s273/AbouttheAuthor.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="67" data-original-width="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8cqKWrxCjn1v8px5lT-F1FgKLrSaeH6DkrNvG4PCJL8-mszkpUvXAum5u1KARHLLCvdXWX4GC5JOwbfQscs02ZhBiKlZaoRAZ8VKQsrsxWWu91vGciL7EYYG-iykSu5TcAg0NlE4ivMe/s0/AbouttheAuthor.png" /></a></div></div><div wfd-id="11"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eZJu2pZOMjh-1DDm4bP5ty2KZv6pAoIL8ypr0F8gsD5YjneQBVLAnnhlVG62ke61tkKldv8tGrs0jaDeOR5ufeF7p_oDXwhXv0BEHL-_eyCEVFoleKf7NE5oInDkErEAzPjVYS3Nwplo/s400/ElleCardy_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="332" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eZJu2pZOMjh-1DDm4bP5ty2KZv6pAoIL8ypr0F8gsD5YjneQBVLAnnhlVG62ke61tkKldv8tGrs0jaDeOR5ufeF7p_oDXwhXv0BEHL-_eyCEVFoleKf7NE5oInDkErEAzPjVYS3Nwplo/w109-h131/ElleCardy_.jpg" width="109" /></a></div>Ell</b><b>e Cardy</b> is the pen name of Lynda R Young. She is a writer, editor, game developer, 3D artist, graphic designer, photographer, gamer and so much more.</div><div wfd-id="10"><br /></div><div wfd-id="9">She has a number of speculative short stories published in print and online. She has gone independent with her debut young adult fantasy adventure, <a href="https://amzn.to/2kaZKSV" target="_blank">Wielder's Prize</a>, now available on Amazon. She’s a relative newcomer to sunny Brisbane and lives with her sweetheart of a husband who is also her best friend.</div><div wfd-id="8"><br /></div><div wfd-id="7">Under the name Lynda R Young, she has a Christian non-fiction out called <a href="http://amzn.to/2dVFHTg" target="_blank">Cling to God: A Daily Devotional.</a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;" wfd-id="5"><a href="https://www.ellecardy.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/ellecardy" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ellecardy/" target="_blank">Instagram </a>| <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lyndaryoung/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="http://eepurl.com/gCVzuv" target="_blank">VIP Club</a></div><div style="text-align: center;" wfd-id="4"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;" wfd-id="3"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;" wfd-id="2">I hope you check out this Elle's website. It's beautiful! Congratulations to Elle.</div><div style="text-align: center;" wfd-id="2">Much success to Wielder's Storm Trilogy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;" wfd-id="1"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVFtocFcnS4JRX1N1Ci4MY-or2iMgSEhLhWpo5_LWDNxeM6lbYLkob4Px_Og2I3_s-W0kwJqJ4ov5AurOk3_-gzMO7y0OGuGbEPpg3emE-C78zrPxzrD5Q5T2YHEEHYeuK-nLhc-0kPpq/s290/Sheri.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="145" data-original-width="290" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVFtocFcnS4JRX1N1Ci4MY-or2iMgSEhLhWpo5_LWDNxeM6lbYLkob4Px_Og2I3_s-W0kwJqJ4ov5AurOk3_-gzMO7y0OGuGbEPpg3emE-C78zrPxzrD5Q5T2YHEEHYeuK-nLhc-0kPpq/w200-h100/Sheri.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;" wfd-id="0"><br /></div>S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-35113259304252749332020-08-05T06:00:00.002-04:002020-08-05T06:00:01.939-04:00IWSG~Letting Go To Your Story's VoiceComing to you from northern New England where the Atlantic is still chilly, the lobstah' is as tasty as ev'ah, and the lighthouses shine on. My family is currently on a much needed vacation at a camp on a lake in Maine we rented for two weeks. <div>
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In Maine language that's <i>Up'tah camp</i>.</div>
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I'll share photos in my next post, but for now I'll move on to this month's IWSG optional question.</div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Quote: "Although I have written a short story collection, the form found me and not the other way around.<i style="font-weight: bold;"> Don't write short stories, novels or poems. Just write your truth and your stories will mold into the shapes they need to be." </i><b> </b></blockquote>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i></i>Have you ever written a piece that became a form, or even a genre, you hadn't planned on writing in? Or do you choose a form/genre in advance?</span></b></blockquote>
The second half of this quote spoke to me; that's why I highlighted it. I hadn't thought about why I write a piece as a short story, poem, or full-length novel. I know some stories are meant to be shorties, while others need a longer and more twisting road. For me, each has always inked the page the way it felt more natural. But that last part <i>". . . write your truth . . . your stories will mold into the shapes they need to be," </i>rings so true with the middle grade novel I'm currently working on.<br />
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I like order. It's my nature. Plans get accomplished. Ideas/Intentions don't. But maybe it's not that simple. Maybe it's about having an idea of a plan and where you're going, but letting go to the freedom writing avails. We've all heard <i>'. . . Let the story speak to you . . .'</i>, right? So I guess my answer to this question is yes I have. And it's teaching me more about myself, which is a good thing.<br />
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A big Merci! goes out to this month's amazing co-hosts <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://writingsusanb-rouch.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1595599087706000&usg=AFQjCNE_sbnmcyKLqcvLSd-Gc_OkMma-bA" href="https://writingsusanb-rouch.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #3e62b4; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Susan Baury Rouchard,</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://nancygideon.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1595599087706000&usg=AFQjCNFY7t4hR4Io25mzlq4bcEUjcRXq2A" href="https://nancygideon.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #3e62b4; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Nancy </a></span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://nancygideon.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1595599087706000&usg=AFQjCNFY7t4hR4Io25mzlq4bcEUjcRXq2A" href="https://nancygideon.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #3e62b4; font-family: inherit; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Gideon,</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://jenniferlanebooks.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1595599087706000&usg=AFQjCNGdYlGpaBGPe-lRppI8hiclCFE-rg" href="http://jenniferlanebooks.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #3e62b4; font-family: inherit; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jennifer Lane,</a><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/jenniferswritingrevolution.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1595599087706000&usg=AFQjCNGN91DTf8lNkRyUg4Xkj910QhMLVQ" href="https://www.blogger.com/jenniferswritingrevolution.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #3e62b4; font-family: inherit; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jennifer Hawes,</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://hogwartssabbatical.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1595599087707000&usg=AFQjCNE2QDh_2vGLXN7nYLHdUGcADGvkpQ" href="http://hogwartssabbatical.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #3e62b4; font-family: inherit; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Chemist Ken,</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"> and </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://writewithfey.blogspot.com/&source=gmail&ust=1595599087707000&usg=AFQjCNH7QPgHvWANzVi0yRa8_xa8_L8r-w" href="http://writewithfey.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #3e62b4; font-family: inherit; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Chrys Fey!</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"> </span><br />
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S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-17633323918640333272020-06-08T06:00:00.001-04:002020-06-08T06:00:06.468-04:00MMGM ~ BAD FAIRY with Author Elaine KayeWelcome to another edition of Marvelous Middle Grade Monday! #MMGM Super glad you're here because I've got the cuties new middle grade release that puts the sweet back in bad.<center>
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<div wfd-id="86"><br /></div><div wfd-id="77"><div wfd-id="84"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNn8OxuC7k90Y3BuNjm8EUrvVW5r2WAVvtl_8FSo4tqd2qssNEsC0l_Sg2MlX4-G6chObryVhoWrHYjevSDIo3iHVdsYLSGX9a2UveQYJZZO-0QK6P2_PX_GyOhU_jBz2YF6Hm8yfrowso/" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNn8OxuC7k90Y3BuNjm8EUrvVW5r2WAVvtl_8FSo4tqd2qssNEsC0l_Sg2MlX4-G6chObryVhoWrHYjevSDIo3iHVdsYLSGX9a2UveQYJZZO-0QK6P2_PX_GyOhU_jBz2YF6Hm8yfrowso/w266-h400/BadFairy_w14177_750.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Fairy-Adventures-Book-ebook/dp/B0875RH6N3&source=gmail&ust=1591103756505000&usg=AFQjCNFUQv5imk4YUr5CabgOB5D13s10SA" href="https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Fairy-Adventures-Book-ebook/dp/B0875RH6N3" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #196ad4; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Amazon</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"> / </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bad-fairy-elaine-kaye/1136868423&source=gmail&ust=1591103756505000&usg=AFQjCNFsDgqxhT_Xalq1GWcN4iNpXq4ngQ" href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bad-fairy-elaine-kaye/1136868423" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #196ad4; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Barnes & Noble</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b>Bad Fairy</b></h2></div><div wfd-id="83"><b>Series:</b> A Bad Fairy Adventure (Book One)</div><div wfd-id="82"><b>Author:</b> Elaine Kaye</div><div wfd-id="81"><b>Publisher:</b> The Wild Rose Press</div><div wfd-id="80"><b>Genre:</b> Fantasy Middle Grade</div><div wfd-id="79"><b>Length:</b> 66 pages</div><div wfd-id="78"><b>Age Range:</b> 8-12</div></div><div wfd-id="76"><br /></div><div wfd-id="75"><b>Description: </b>Thistle Greenbud is not a bad fairy. She simply doesn't like rules, and it's just her luck that her homework is to create a new rule for the fairy handbook. But first, she has more important things to do. Like figure out how to get back at Dusty and Moss for playing tricks on her.</div><div wfd-id="74"> </div><div wfd-id="73">Before she can carry out her plan, though, disaster strikes and she finds herself working alongside the very fairies she wanted revenge on. Can they work together and trust each other, or will things go from bad to worse?</div><div wfd-id="72"><br /></div><div wfd-id="71"><br /></div><div wfd-id="70"><br /></div><div wfd-id="69"><br /></div><div wfd-id="22"><div wfd-id="67">In Bad Fairy, we meet many different kinds of fairies, including pixies and brownies. Other magical creatures are mentioned as well, because many creatures (from fauns to boggarts) live in Pinecone Grove, where Thistle Greenbud, the main character of Bad Fairy, lives.</div><div wfd-id="66"><br /></div><div wfd-id="65"><b>Check out this glossary of magical creatures and what they are:</b></div><div wfd-id="64"><br /></div><div wfd-id="63"><b><font color="#3367d6">Boggarts</font></b> - evil spirits that cause mischief in houses, from spoiling milk to kidnapping children. They also live in marshes and fields.</div><div wfd-id="62"><br /></div><div wfd-id="61"><b><font color="#3367d6">Brownies </font></b>- industrious fairies that help in farms and houses.</div><div wfd-id="60"><br /></div><div wfd-id="59"><font color="#3367d6"><b>Fauns</b></font> - half-human, half-goat. They protect wildlife of the woods and fields.</div><div wfd-id="58"><br /></div><div wfd-id="57"><b><font color="#3367d6">Flower Fairies</font></b> - plant spirits that live and sleep in their own special flower. They even wear dresses to match the flowers they care for.</div><div wfd-id="56"><br /></div><div wfd-id="55"><b><font color="#3367d6">Gnomes</font></b> - earth spirits that live underground.</div><div wfd-id="54"><br /></div><div wfd-id="53"><b><font color="#3367d6">Goblins </font></b>- scary-looking, mischievous creatures that are greedy for gold, jewelry, and anything that sparkles.</div><div wfd-id="52"><br /></div><div wfd-id="51"><b><font color="#3367d6">Ogres</font></b> - cannibalistic, brutish monsters with human features.</div><div wfd-id="50"><br /></div><div wfd-id="49"><b><font color="#3367d6">Troop</font></b> - a group of fairies.</div><div wfd-id="48"><br /></div><div wfd-id="47"><b><font color="#3367d6">Trolls</font></b> - unfriendly creatures that dwell in mountains and caves.</div><div wfd-id="46"><br /></div><div wfd-id="45"><b><font color="#3367d6">Pixies </font></b>- house fairies that only wear green and love their pointed hats.</div><div wfd-id="44"><br /></div><div wfd-id="43"> </div><div style="text-align: center;" wfd-id="42"><b>EXCERPT</b></div><div wfd-id="41"><br /></div><div wfd-id="40">I turn at the sound of talking behind me. Shock flits through me. There is a line of fairies at our back door—pixies, brownies, house elves, gnomes, even a few flower fairies. What in Fairy Land is going on? Well, at least there aren’t any goblins, boggarts, trolls, or ogres! I turn back to our kitchen.</div><div wfd-id="39"><br /></div><div wfd-id="38">The fairy Mom is interviewing now is a pixie, the most beloved of all fairies. They always wear green, and this pixie’s dress is a bright green, which matches her pointed hat. Pixies are never seen without their pointed hats.</div><div wfd-id="37"><br /></div><div wfd-id="36">Standing at the counter, I eat dried mushrooms with a glass of cold chamomile tea. After a few minutes, the young pixie walks out the front door, with her head hanging low.</div><div wfd-id="35"><br /></div><div wfd-id="34">“What’s all this about, Mom?”</div><div wfd-id="33"><br /></div><div wfd-id="32">“I knew you couldn’t wait to ask.” She gets up to stretch her legs and fluff out her wings. </div><div wfd-id="31">“Your dad and I have been doing a lot of talking lately about getting some help here at home.”</div><div wfd-id="30"><br /></div><div wfd-id="29">“But why?” I interrupt. “I help you all the time. Why do we need someone else in our little home?” I feel hurt that all the help I do doesn’t matter.</div><div wfd-id="28"><br /></div><div wfd-id="27">“My sweet bumblebee.” Mom puts her arm around me. “All this has happened so fast my head is in a bee buzz. Your dad found out from Mr. Thorn at the factory that they need someone to tie ribbon onto fairy dust bags. It’ll give us extra money.”</div><div wfd-id="26"><br /></div><div wfd-id="25">My mom working? I want her at home, with me. But one look at her and I can’t deny the twinkle in her eyes at the idea.</div><div wfd-id="24"><br /></div><div wfd-id="23">“Mom, that’s great, if you want to do it. You are so good at crafts, and I know how much you love creating with ribbons. You would be great at this new job. I’m so happy for you.” I give her a hug.</div><div wfd-id="23"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;" wfd-id="23"><img height="40" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZoWRv1FMAvCq3NAfL9rsAX-1-E85AaeedQpLHG80irKT7XDaAOcraGwR34tNyHZuzRjdeYbXT31JF6Ylj03GzHYxSheEqAVMilECcD1kXGyJmMJeKCqmb4P6oqcO5RTK-N3N109lrazCK/w200-h40/GIVEAWAY_Title.png" width="200" /></div></div><div wfd-id="14"><div style="text-align: center;" wfd-id="20"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;" wfd-id="19">Love picture books? Here's a chance to WIN 3 Signed Paperback Picture Books!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;" wfd-id="18"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggR5B-fkvdZEK_1PTlCrE7pCzhSLbRybp2lVwJH4R-rlGDeE5iCcSVrw78VbZLql7Ryg83aDcsZyOL1JDhw0mYJbvEZGS2TL50wg7a8K13pLrgZ3QncfEHtuhP-OwodI3bVcEEU7at-yOn/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggR5B-fkvdZEK_1PTlCrE7pCzhSLbRybp2lVwJH4R-rlGDeE5iCcSVrw78VbZLql7Ryg83aDcsZyOL1JDhw0mYJbvEZGS2TL50wg7a8K13pLrgZ3QncfEHtuhP-OwodI3bVcEEU7at-yOn/s320/Giveaway+Image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;" wfd-id="17"><b>Pea Soup Disaster, Doctor Mom, The Missing Alphabet</b></div><div wfd-id="16"> </div><div style="text-align: center;" wfd-id="15">Giveaway deets: One winner, International, Ends - July 1, 2020 12:00am Eastern Standard Time</div><div style="text-align: center;" wfd-id="15"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;" wfd-id="15"><a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/76132e0220/?" target="_blank">GIVEAWAY LINK</a></div><div style="text-align: left;" wfd-id="15"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;" wfd-id="15"><div style="text-align: center;" wfd-id="15"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJxMvz_UjXbOKlW_XFVyT-6bfvUQJdVWVy2otd4wCfxT_r67JbrAMTsdLg_b_j_7vXdGPJNFmJnqtLGju-J0sk7n2R8hhJMldvF4PW-Xuq2I6QznOcdIq2Hd_KcoRo1nSqOMPgyYvjbxR/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJxMvz_UjXbOKlW_XFVyT-6bfvUQJdVWVy2otd4wCfxT_r67JbrAMTsdLg_b_j_7vXdGPJNFmJnqtLGju-J0sk7n2R8hhJMldvF4PW-Xuq2I6QznOcdIq2Hd_KcoRo1nSqOMPgyYvjbxR/w189-h200/Elaine+Kaye+Author.jpg" width="189" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;" wfd-id="15"><b><br /></b></div>Elaine Kaye</b> is the author of A Gregory Green Adventure series. She first created Gregory Green after her son, who loved her homemade pea soup, thus inspiring the story Pea Soup Disaster. Bad Fairy is her middle grade debut and the first of A Bad Fairy Adventure series.</div><div style="text-align: center;" wfd-id="15"> </div><div style="text-align: center;" wfd-id="15">Kaye has worked as a library assistant and teacher’s assistant in elementary schools in the Sunshine State. She currently lives in Florida, but she has called Michigan; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Okinawa, Japan home. She is a grandmother of three boys.</div><div style="text-align: center;" wfd-id="15"><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><font size="2"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elaine-Kaye/e/B06X42CV9R" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> / </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16488350.Elaine_Kaye" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Goodreads</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> / </span><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elaine-kaye" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">BookBub</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> / </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/elainekayeauthor/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Instagram</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> / </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ElaineKayeAuthor/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Facebook</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/ElaineKAuthor" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> / </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/elaine-kaye-28564b16b/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">LinkedIn</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> / </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://elainekaye.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a></span></b></font><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b>Best of luck to Elaine and Fairy Thistle! Good luck with the giveaway to all who enter.</b></span></p></div></div></div><div wfd-id="7"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKn1nGfDY3k0y2XO2BYkvxk8i73mUFjc1FEu8e7gd4cFhiuy166393jEfoqtvN0sR8pCwd_pI1NAZMs3HugFeSVqGLxTBX-UjPZm-DcjCQTUI1YAzlhAM6v3vWuqvcw1ajJ9TjHqXDMJsl/s1600/rsz_sheri.png" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #674ea7; float: left; font-family: "Droid Serif"; font-size: 14.3px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="73" data-original-width="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKn1nGfDY3k0y2XO2BYkvxk8i73mUFjc1FEu8e7gd4cFhiuy166393jEfoqtvN0sR8pCwd_pI1NAZMs3HugFeSVqGLxTBX-UjPZm-DcjCQTUI1YAzlhAM6v3vWuqvcw1ajJ9TjHqXDMJsl/s1600/rsz_sheri.png" style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYAqLeKb0hLPq1SdB5CNU6lyWjP96BYJdDPPaf5kVPRg8eUjO-8Fwf3GKKl1rJf1iaXpYR_sR1q8IqP0yol7_m3bBUqXAYWaK_n4facuUiEQqvicULoia4-rgoCoFwKXKP9ljEUp-jgoB/s1600/rsz_mmgm2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: right; color: #674ea7; float: right; font-family: "Droid Serif"; font-size: 14.3px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYAqLeKb0hLPq1SdB5CNU6lyWjP96BYJdDPPaf5kVPRg8eUjO-8Fwf3GKKl1rJf1iaXpYR_sR1q8IqP0yol7_m3bBUqXAYWaK_n4facuUiEQqvicULoia4-rgoCoFwKXKP9ljEUp-jgoB/s1600/rsz_mmgm2.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px; text-align: center;" wfd-id="971">Interested in being part of Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px; text-align: center;" wfd-id="970">? Click </span><a href="http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">HERE</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.3px; line-height: 20.02px; text-align: center;" wfd-id="969"> to join in and for the other participants.</span></p></div>S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-83301518128572950562020-06-03T06:00:00.000-04:002020-06-03T06:00:06.907-04:00IWSG ~ Unity<center>
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“Unity to be real must stand the severest strain without breaking.” – Mahatma Gandhi</blockquote>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html" target="_blank"><b>LINK</b></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>*Insecure Writer Support Group aka IWSG is a safe haven where writers share their fears and insecurities, hopes and dreams through a monthly post. Want to join in? Click on the image to find out more or to find other participating members.</i></span></blockquote>
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I'd planned on giving some humorous answer in response to this month's optional question about a deep, dark writer secret I have, but my heart is too heavy to be funny, right now. I'm not going to go on and point out all the current wrongs in the world or preach on how we should handle them. I just want to offer you a silent nod of encouragement and comfort. </div>
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Thinking of you all . . .</div>
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S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-30886641820797511442020-05-06T09:44:00.000-04:002020-05-06T10:01:38.212-04:00IWSG ~ The ZoneWell, we've arrived at our third Insecure Writer Support Group post of this pandemic. Maybe it's the fourth. Guess that depends on where you live. Any hoot, today we're exploring this question:<br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Do you have any rituals that you use when you need help getting into the ZONE?</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Care to share?</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OeXpAuQ70aeACnlVtMR_5Z_Td0jU2Tj9BuCm3ra1UbbEqTFqJRg08IiTaGh3SecIp4vnxSa41aqDt6zgZSfgK1asRtYRGJ8Fh2It5J4kGNtlsG4Bbqph_bwUOurWNQ7_4u16EuAS06be/s1600/Z+O+N+E.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OeXpAuQ70aeACnlVtMR_5Z_Td0jU2Tj9BuCm3ra1UbbEqTFqJRg08IiTaGh3SecIp4vnxSa41aqDt6zgZSfgK1asRtYRGJ8Fh2It5J4kGNtlsG4Bbqph_bwUOurWNQ7_4u16EuAS06be/s320/Z+O+N+E.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Finding my muse was never an issue for me for the first few years - and numerous manuscripts - I wrote. Blogging was my big go-to for getting the zone in sight. But it seemed after my first two books were published that my inspiration to draw me into the writing zone vanished. Like literally POOF! I've dissected the possible reasons for this distress and have whittled it down to this - after two big years of seeing my books out in the world and with all the marketing and promotion I had to do, the reality of what it really means to be a published author hit me. That realization zapped me hard.</div>
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I have come up with a few things that help me find my zone again. The biggest one is to simply sit in the chair and write. Write anything. It doesn't matter. Sometimes it's even an entry for my daily journal. Whatever. It's almost like seeing the words type or write out on the page reminds me that I can do this.</div>
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Other, more mundane things I do are: read a book (Not online, either. That is just a temptation to check my email or whatever to procrastinate.), take the dog for a walk, do housework, or listen to music. Sometimes I watch a movie that's similar to my genre or scene I'm writing. Helps me feel what needs to be written.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11.44px;"><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html" style="color: #0d64a3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">OTHER PARTICIPANTS</a></td></tr>
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Thank you to this month's co-hosts<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">! <span style="text-align: center;"> </span><a href="https://featherstoneauthor.wordpress.com/" style="color: #057452; text-align: center;" target="_blank">Feather Stone,</a><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><a href="http://beverlystowemcclure.blogspot.com/" style="color: #3e62b4; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Beverly Stowe McClure,</a><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><a href="http://playoffthepage.com/" style="color: #3e62b4; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mary Aalgaard,</a><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><a _blank="" href="http://kimlajevardi.com/%E2%80%9Dtarget=" style="color: #3e62b4; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;">Kim Lajevardi,</a><span style="text-align: center;"> and </span><a href="http://hogwartssabbatical.blogspot.com/" style="color: #3e62b4; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Chemist Ken!</a></span></span></div>
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Want to join in the fun of posting once a month about your insecurities, goals, fears, and progress? Or want to read what other participants have to say? Click on the link in the teeny logo.</div>
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<b>What about you? Any secret methods to pull yourself into the motivation and inspiration of the writing zone?</b></div>
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S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-35713269110307689852020-04-23T06:00:00.000-04:002020-04-23T06:00:19.980-04:00It's O-Kay To #ReachOutToConnect<center style="text-align: start;">
***I was inspired by Cheryl Rainfield, one of the sweetest and kindest authors I know, to share my thoughts and feelings about how the Covid-19 pandemic is affecting so many. Find Cheryl's post <a href="http://cherylrainfield.com/blog/index.php/2020/04/21/the-pandemic-is-traumatizing-join-me-thursday-april-23-in-letting-others-know-there-is-noshameincoping-and-that-its-okay-to-shieldyourmentalhealth-and-to-reachouttoconnect/?fbclid=IwAR1kPCc-0e0rE5rmw3YeKP4p2hM_c8mo_UAMmIdhs5F9FP8lEFpnBJuxU94" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</center>
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Fear. Isolation. Loneliness.</center>
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Anxiety. Apprehension. Lack of motivation.</center>
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Sadness. Confusion. Depression.</center>
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You may have felt some or all of these emotions during your lifetime. You may be feeling then now since #socialdistancting and #selfconfinement began. Since your daily routine stopped abruptly, leaving you reeling with unknowns and what-ifs.</center>
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It feels like yesterday. </center>
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And then like forever-ago.</center>
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That's normal. Understandable. It's O-kay.</center>
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<b>YOU ARE NOT ALONE. </b></center>
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It's hard. I totally get it. There is plenty to fear, plenty to feel isolated over, and plenty to box each one of us into the confinement of any of those emotions. But we can battle our way through this.</center>
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<b>TOGETHER.</b></center>
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<li>Give yourself permission to feel. Yes, feel whatever it is you're feeling. <b>#NoShameInCoping</b></li>
<li>Take comfort in knowing there are many out there feeling as you do. Revisit old photos, journals, or newspaper clippings. Remember the good, and know more good will come your way. <b>#ShieldYourMentalHealth</b></li>
<li>Reach out to others through email, a phone call, or even set up an online virtual meeting. <b>#ReachOutToConnect</b> </li>
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Loneliness and the feeling of isolation (or even of claustrophobia) can hit anyone, even someone in a busy household. I'm married, a mother to four, owner of three cats and a GSD puppy, and a business owner with my husband - plus I write. We're still coming in virtual contact with customers and with each other, yet at times I feel alone. </center>
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Solution:</center>
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A few of my good friends and I have been setting up a virtual call at least once a week since the pandemic began. I can't tell you how therapeutic these cyber chat sessions have been. We even share a drink together. Our kids, husbands, and even our dogs and cats steal the screen to make their own virtual appearance during our meetings.</center>
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<b>SELF CARE</b></center>
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<span style="line-height: 24px;" wfd-id="4052"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For most of us, life is one big ball of hurry up. We are running here and there, whether during work hours, family time, or adult time. So much so that we find it hard to slow down, let alone come to an almost complete standstill like during our current world pandemic. Here are some suggested activities to help with self care during this time. </span></span></div>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;" wfd-id="4050"><span style="line-height: 24px;" wfd-id="4051"><span style="font-family: inherit;">read a book</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;" wfd-id="4048"><span style="line-height: 24px;" wfd-id="4049"><span style="font-family: inherit;">jot down your thoughts in a journal</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;" wfd-id="4046"><span style="line-height: 24px;" wfd-id="4047"><span style="font-family: inherit;">take a walk with the dog</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;" wfd-id="4044"><span style="line-height: 24px;" wfd-id="4045"><span style="font-family: inherit;">make yourself a special sweet treat</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;" wfd-id="4042"><span style="line-height: 24px;" wfd-id="4043"><span style="font-family: inherit;">clean or rearrange rooms in your house</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;" wfd-id="4040"><span style="line-height: 24px;" wfd-id="4041"><span style="font-family: inherit;">do a craft you've always wanted to do</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;" wfd-id="4038"><span style="line-height: 24px;" wfd-id="4039"><span style="font-family: inherit;">knitting or sewing</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;" wfd-id="4036"><span style="line-height: 24px;" wfd-id="4037"><span style="font-family: inherit;">learn calligraphy</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;" wfd-id="4034"><span style="line-height: 24px;" wfd-id="4035"><span style="font-family: inherit;">exercise</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;" wfd-id="4032"><span style="line-height: 24px;" wfd-id="4033"><span style="font-family: inherit;">play an instrument</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;" wfd-id="4030"><span style="line-height: 24px;" wfd-id="4031"><span style="font-family: inherit;">virtually taking up yoga</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;" wfd-id="4028"><span style="line-height: 24px;" wfd-id="4029"><span style="font-family: inherit;">watch an old movie you used to love</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;" wfd-id="4026"><span style="line-height: 24px;" wfd-id="4027"><span style="font-family: inherit;">flip through old photographs</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;" wfd-id="4024"><span style="line-height: 24px;" wfd-id="4025"><span style="font-family: inherit;">do a treasure hunt in your basement or attic</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;" wfd-id="4022"><span style="line-height: 24px;" wfd-id="4023"><span style="font-family: inherit;">light candles</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;" wfd-id="4020"><span style="line-height: 24px;" wfd-id="4021"><span style="font-family: inherit;">drink plenty of water</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;" wfd-id="4018"><span style="line-height: 24px;" wfd-id="4019"><span style="font-family: inherit;">pray</span></span></li>
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<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;" wfd-id="4016"><b>H</b></span><span style="line-height: 24px;" wfd-id="4015"><b>elpful Self-Care sites.</b></span></span></div>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;" wfd-id="4013"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://kn1p.mjt.lu/lnk/AMUAAG6w0Z0AAcqB504AAAE-G6oAAAABlS0AAEiVAAlhrABel97E3kZNC-66RtaYLIMVR8iLUAAI5LQ/16/br6jprfqNquZy-iFCI2vWQ/aHR0cHM6Ly9pb2NkZi5vcmcvY292aWQxOS9zZWxmLWNhcmUtZHVyaW5nLWNvdmlkLTE5Lw&source=gmail&ust=1587671878729000&usg=AFQjCNEIBgX3UaNyCbvC3m3N6JjxmlyXZA" href="http://kn1p.mjt.lu/lnk/AMUAAG6w0Z0AAcqB504AAAE-G6oAAAABlS0AAEiVAAlhrABel97E3kZNC-66RtaYLIMVR8iLUAAI5LQ/16/br6jprfqNquZy-iFCI2vWQ/aHR0cHM6Ly9pb2NkZi5vcmcvY292aWQxOS9zZWxmLWNhcmUtZHVyaW5nLWNvdmlkLTE5Lw" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #773ba0; line-height: 24px;" wfd-id="4014"><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">OCD</span></u></span></a></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;" wfd-id="4011"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://kn1p.mjt.lu/lnk/AMUAAG6w0Z0AAcqB504AAAE-G6oAAAABlS0AAEiVAAlhrABel97E3kZNC-66RtaYLIMVR8iLUAAI5LQ/17/SLUxF6016CcN4fSNmwkqDg/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2RjLmdvdi9jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy8yMDE5LW5jb3YvZGFpbHktbGlmZS1jb3BpbmcvbWFuYWdpbmctc3RyZXNzLWFueGlldHkuaHRtbA&source=gmail&ust=1587671878729000&usg=AFQjCNEY3HMfHXngEbcyhbTC4ItV_r9ToQ" href="http://kn1p.mjt.lu/lnk/AMUAAG6w0Z0AAcqB504AAAE-G6oAAAABlS0AAEiVAAlhrABel97E3kZNC-66RtaYLIMVR8iLUAAI5LQ/17/SLUxF6016CcN4fSNmwkqDg/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2RjLmdvdi9jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy8yMDE5LW5jb3YvZGFpbHktbGlmZS1jb3BpbmcvbWFuYWdpbmctc3RyZXNzLWFueGlldHkuaHRtbA" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #773ba0; line-height: 24px;" wfd-id="4012"><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stress</span></u></span></a></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;" wfd-id="4009"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://kn1p.mjt.lu/lnk/AMUAAG6w0Z0AAcqB504AAAE-G6oAAAABlS0AAEiVAAlhrABel97E3kZNC-66RtaYLIMVR8iLUAAI5LQ/18/CWoODBKKMFMFBlYWcz1Rrg/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubWF5b2NsaW5pY2hlYWx0aHN5c3RlbS5vcmcvaG9tZXRvd24taGVhbHRoL3NwZWFraW5nLW9mLWhlYWx0aC9zZWxmLWNhcmUtdGlwcy1kdXJpbmctdGhlLWNvdmlkLTE5LXBhbmRlbWlj&source=gmail&ust=1587671878729000&usg=AFQjCNHrZ2a2aaYg58O3an9rtT8hrKdluQ" href="http://kn1p.mjt.lu/lnk/AMUAAG6w0Z0AAcqB504AAAE-G6oAAAABlS0AAEiVAAlhrABel97E3kZNC-66RtaYLIMVR8iLUAAI5LQ/18/CWoODBKKMFMFBlYWcz1Rrg/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubWF5b2NsaW5pY2hlYWx0aHN5c3RlbS5vcmcvaG9tZXRvd24taGVhbHRoL3NwZWFraW5nLW9mLWhlYWx0aC9zZWxmLWNhcmUtdGlwcy1kdXJpbmctdGhlLWNvdmlkLTE5LXBhbmRlbWlj" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #773ba0; line-height: 24px;" wfd-id="4010"><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mayo Clinic</span></u></span></a></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;" wfd-id="4007"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://kn1p.mjt.lu/lnk/AMUAAG6w0Z0AAcqB504AAAE-G6oAAAABlS0AAEiVAAlhrABel97E3kZNC-66RtaYLIMVR8iLUAAI5LQ/19/_B_Pd9Hhafl97oT0YecAdw/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucHJlbWllcmhlYWx0aC5jb20veW91ci1oZWFsdGgvYXJ0aWNsZXMvaGVhbHRobm93LzI1LXN0YXktYXQtaG9tZS1zZWxmLWNhcmUtaWRlYXMtZHVyaW5nLWNvdmlkLTE5&source=gmail&ust=1587671878729000&usg=AFQjCNH-bXYI7sQSysDFXFVUGQ1pJGwSjw" href="http://kn1p.mjt.lu/lnk/AMUAAG6w0Z0AAcqB504AAAE-G6oAAAABlS0AAEiVAAlhrABel97E3kZNC-66RtaYLIMVR8iLUAAI5LQ/19/_B_Pd9Hhafl97oT0YecAdw/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucHJlbWllcmhlYWx0aC5jb20veW91ci1oZWFsdGgvYXJ0aWNsZXMvaGVhbHRobm93LzI1LXN0YXktYXQtaG9tZS1zZWxmLWNhcmUtaWRlYXMtZHVyaW5nLWNvdmlkLTE5" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #773ba0; line-height: 24px;" wfd-id="4008"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stay-At_Home</span></span></a></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;" wfd-id="4005"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://kn1p.mjt.lu/lnk/AMUAAG6w0Z0AAcqB504AAAE-G6oAAAABlS0AAEiVAAlhrABel97E3kZNC-66RtaYLIMVR8iLUAAI5LQ/20/rrrQAr0MYdxXx_YC8P0IBg/aHR0cHM6Ly9hdS5yZWFjaG91dC5jb20vYXJ0aWNsZXMvMTAtd2F5cy10by10YWtlLWNhcmUtb2YteW91cnNlbGYtZHVyaW5nLWNvcm9uYXZpcnVz&source=gmail&ust=1587671878729000&usg=AFQjCNHR9DMY0Fdv3H94opD84YmZmi8eRg" href="http://kn1p.mjt.lu/lnk/AMUAAG6w0Z0AAcqB504AAAE-G6oAAAABlS0AAEiVAAlhrABel97E3kZNC-66RtaYLIMVR8iLUAAI5LQ/20/rrrQAr0MYdxXx_YC8P0IBg/aHR0cHM6Ly9hdS5yZWFjaG91dC5jb20vYXJ0aWNsZXMvMTAtd2F5cy10by10YWtlLWNhcmUtb2YteW91cnNlbGYtZHVyaW5nLWNvcm9uYXZpcnVz" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #773ba0; line-height: 24px;" wfd-id="4006"><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ways To Stay Healthy</span></u></span></a></li>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*Some information previously share in my newsletter.*</span></center>
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<li><b>I also have a Young Adult Health (Mental & Physical) Page on my website with helpful links to mental health & illness, eating disorders, drug addition, healthy teen project, and more. Please feel free to utilize that page. <a href="https://www.salarsenbooks.com/teen-reading-recs-websites" target="_blank">FOUND HERE.</a></b></li>
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I'm hoping you connect with some of this and that you find it helpful. If you do, please share it with others you think could benefit from it. Want to share this information or have some helpful thoughts or links to share? Please use hashtags #NoShameInCoping, #ShieldYourMentalHealth, & #ReachOutToConnect.</center>
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My hope is that you believe you are not alone. We are much stronger when we stand together. </center>
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Wishing you health, happiness, and peace . . . </center>
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S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-58690814747390739222020-04-01T06:00:00.000-04:002020-04-01T06:00:04.006-04:00IWSG ~ Focus On The BrillianceFear. Isolation. Loneliness. <center>
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That's mostly what I've been hearing or reading since #socialdistancing and #selfconfinement began a few weeks ago. I get it. It's hard. It totally stinks. There is plenty to fear, plenty to feel isolated over, and plenty to box each one of us into the confinement of loneliness. Well, I mean we writers kind of exist in a self-confined world for the most part, but you get what I mean.</div>
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Here's a different way to look at all this. Someone I consider one of my life mentors once said to me, "It's all about priorities."</div>
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If we focus on the worry, the unknown, and the pictures in our heads of what might be, we will spend the rest of our days for however long this goes on sad and depressed. We need to find the good within the devastation. </div>
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Do not take my words for meaning that this virus isn't a big deal. It definitely is. I'm beyond saddened by the lives that have been lost, for the jobs that have and will be no more, for the lack of security we all feel right now. But I'm thankful for the precautions that are being taken, for the people that are working ungodly hours to beat this thing, and for the kindness within neighborhoods that we've all been seeing. </div>
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Seriously, the writing community totally RAWKS! So many have offered free material and readings to parents who are now in the position they must home-school their kids. Everyone has been amazing.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11.44px;"><a href="https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html" style="color: #0d64a3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">OTHER PARTICIPANTS</a></td></tr>
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Before I get to this month's IWSG question, I'd like to thank <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://dianeburton.blogspot.com/" style="color: #3e62b4; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Diane Burton,</a><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><a href="http://www.jhmoncrieff.com/" style="color: #3e62b4; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">JH Moncrieff,</a><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><a href="https://emaginette.wordpress.com/" style="color: #3e62b4; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Anna @ Emaginette,</a><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><a href="http://reprobatetypewriter.com/blog/" style="color: #3e62b4; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Karen @ Reprobate Typewriter,</a><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><a _blank="" href="https://erikabeebe.com/%E2%80%9Dtarget=" style="color: #3e62b4; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;">Erika Beebe,</a><span style="text-align: center;"> and </span><a href="http://www.lisabuiecollard.com/" style="color: #3e62b4; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Lisa Buie-Collard for co-hosting this </a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.lisabuiecollard.com/" style="color: #3e62b4; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">month!</a></span></span></div>
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<b>This month's IWSG optional question to answer: <span style="color: #0b5394;">How are things in your world?</span></b></div>
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As for me, my children are older - two work with my husband at our family business and the younger two still live at home (a junior in college and a sophomore in high school), so we're pretty much the only people we all see. A few for the business, but we are super careful. The real downer is my mom in the nursing home. We haven't physically seen her for three weeks now and it looks like it's going to be a long haul before they'll let any visitors in again. It's very hard on the residents, especially those who are confused by all this - like my mom. She's doing okay. We've been able to FaceTime with her a few times, so that's helped. I worry about my dad, being home alone and worrying about her. But it is what it is, so we'll deal.</div>
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Wishing you all the best of continued health! Be careful, take care of yourself and those you are self-confined with, and stay positive. I'll see you on the other side of this thing. 💜</div>
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S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com19