M.L. Tompsett's Blog, page 7

April is here!

How has this year gone so fast?

How are you all going so far?

Easter is just around the corner. School holidays have started. I’m busy editing my latest book. Fingers crossed it will be released very soon.

At the beginning of the year I come down with covid. I was triple vaccinated. Symptoms still remain in one way or the other. The cough sounds as if I have a smokers cough. My ankle still hurts in the joint and surrounding area when I walk a certain way.

Brain fog is real people. Memory flies out the window. Your thoughts are not the same as they once were.

What have you notice after contracting covid? Have you had any symptoms which continued? Changed your life?

Still working on my blurb for my next book –

The bodyguard’s convenient marriage.

Too busy for love. Family curse or just bad luck. A woman scorned is deadly.

Three rules to stand by:

Business and pleasure should not be mixed.

Don’t get involved with a client.

Don’t get married.

Never one for relationships, hard-working retired-FBI agent Essy Raiker has made it her business to abide by the rules in her bodyguard business. She preferred her work protecting people until the day Declyn Bianchi hired her, and everything changed.

Rules… what rules!

Instead of delivering important news to her estranged husband, she comes face to face with her husband’s identical twin–and, like usual, Leo Bianchi is in trouble with a target on his back, and running from assassins.

More than bullets fly hot and fast when Essy has a second chance to win Dekk’s heart and love. Unexpected enemies emerge, endangering what Essy loves most. She will stop at nothing to save her family and have them back where they belong.

Declyn Bianchi is fed up–with his high society family controlling his life–and his trouble-seeking identical twin. Life has been less than idyllic. Dekk’s prayers were answered in the form of a sinful-looking body—his new bodyguard, Essy Raiker, to protect him from poaching females and business enemies.

He turns to Essy when a family curse hovers dangerously over his and his twin’s heads. His love for her increases when she accepts his proposal of a marriage of convenience before she leaves for her next assignment.

Free from the family curse, Dekk must face reality when the family he thought he could trust betrayed him the most.

Will he have the chance to tell Essy he loves her and win her heart before it is too late?

 Discover who is behind the assassination attacks against the Bianchi family and see if the passion will burn deep in this second chance story at love.

Not all secrets remain dead and buried.

What do you think of my blurb?

I will be preparing the pre-order link soon.

On another note, the talented author Michelle Montebello has her latest book being released today.
Take a look and take advantage of the special .99 cent price. Will not last long at that special price.

Universal book link: https://books2read.com/SummerofEverything

The Summer of Everything: Seasons of Belle: Book 1

FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE QUARANTINE STATION

Note: This book is a rewrite and rebrand of former book INTERWOVEN. Please take this into consideration before purchasing. This new version includes some plot changes.

For twenty years, Belle Hamilton has waited patiently for her partner Ben to propose. When he drops a spectacular bombshell on their relationship, everything she holds dear crumbles around her.

With her life in tatters, she packs her bags and heads to Europe, finding her way to the cobbled streets of Rome.

There she develops an unexpected relationship with Italian bartender Andre, while discovering that happiness can be found and dreams can come true, if she follows her heart.

But it’s not all smooth sailing for these star-crossed lovers. Past hurts and cultural expectations are a stubborn foe and what has always seemed so perfect between them may prove to be their ultimate undoing.

Another talented author with a new book out at the special price of .99 cents.

Amy Andrews

Rom-com featuring –

Grumpy hero

Unimpressed heroine

Enemies to lovers

Forced proximity

Opposites attract

Lots and lots of bunnies

LOL moments

Inventive ways of getting around a no-kissing contract!

BLURB

Marshall Dyson wants one thing and one thing only: to raze his grandfather’s island to the ground. Everything is ready to go—except for the freakin’ bunnies! Hundreds of the furry critters hopping about and multiplying before his eyes. And then there’s the American Bunny League, along with one distractingly beautiful veterinarian, taking him to court to save them…

Dr. Augusta “Gus” North can’t believe the grumpy—and annoyingly hot—builder she’s facing in court cares more about demo-ing some cabin than the lives of 200 bunnies. But when the judge orders Marshall to stay on the island and help her rehome the rabbits—the entire month—she knows they’re going to need to lay some ground rules.

Like, for example, absolutely no kissing. Might as well go ahead and get that in writing. Sure it’s on a napkin, but that still counts.

How hard could it be to keep their hands off each other amidst all the fighting? Surprisingly, harder than wrangling 200 bunnies…

The kissing contract – universal link.

Don’t forget my contemporary romance –

Insta Bride is still available on KU.

https://books2read.com/u/bwveVe

Well look at the time… It must be cuppa time then lunch!

Until next time, enjoy your cuppa and happy reading.

Happy 2022 New Year!

Last day of 2021

January has started and is nearly over.

Which I am glad!

I am one of the many from around the world who had tested positive this year to Covid.

I am coming up to four weeks since I first started having symptoms.

I retained my taste and sense of smell. Covid had knocked me for a six.

Thankfully, my youngest son had tested negative, including my husband. My eldest son, not so lucky, he too had tested positive with Covid. Several other people I know also had Covid, some worse than others.

Suffering with Covid has placed my writing behind, as I had no motivation. No concentration, and very lethargic. My brain just did not want to function. The pain in my joints was bad and would wake me during the night.

 Yet, I practice being safe when out and about, with wearing a face mask, washing hands, sanitising hands, keeping my distance—it all came down to giving a farewell hug to a loved one.

Please be careful out there. When they say, treat everyone around you as if they have Covid, the officials were not lying.  

Since recovering from some of the severe symptoms, I started on more edits. Added a few more words to one of my contemporary books. Updated my previous contemporary and cover.

I have also started to obtain a few more crystals. Towers and spheres. I have the pics below with meanings.

Well, that is me for January. I am a survivor of covid. And I am turning February into my January and kick butt with my writing.

Happy New Year everyone and welcome to 2022

The black tower

Black crystals are intriguing, mysterious and have a powerful presence that has been appreciated throughout history. Black is possibly one of the most symbolic colors in human history. Often, it was associated with evil, the supernatural, and death. This is most likely because humans are inclined to fear the dark. Our ancient ancestors, without fire would have likely spent many frightful nights looking into the darkness. We fear the unknown, but understand that it may hold knowledge and we strive to overcome our primitive fears, moving forward to uncover what lies beyond. Black Obsidian is a powerful cleanser for your spiritual aura. It removed negative energy.

The white sphere

The classic form of Selenite is the opaquest and named after the moon. This is the style of Selenite said to awaken the crown chakra. As far as high-level healing crystals go, the traditional form of Selenite is ever ready to clear out negative energy so you can reach for the angelic realm. Takeaway. Selenite is said to be a powerful healing crystal that promotes peace and calm, mental clarity, and well-being. It’s also believed by some that this crystal can remove negative energy and help you connect to higher realms.
Instantly soothing, Selenite has a long history of being a beloved goddess stone and is said to bring protection, harmony, and soul healing to your body, mind and soul.

The Blue Goldstone is not a grown stone in the traditional sense. But since it is made of natural materials and has the degree of hardness seven, the gold flow is still one of the semi-precious stones.

And its reddish-brown color with countless, golden glittering inclusions in it makes it a very popular gemstone. Brown-Gold grounds us: Learn now everything about the encouraging effect of Blue Goldstone on body and soul. The Blue Goldstone gives us a deep, inner serenity and the gift of simply accepting ourselves as we really are. The Blue Goldstone is a great addition especially for the morning grouch – because it provides us with extra power, which often lasts all day, it also has a mood-enhancing effect and also supports our aura on an energetic level

Natural artSome time in the sun. Down at the beach before I was sick.

Sunday blog.

What has been happening?

After a busy few days, and broken links for my latest newsletter, I have finally sent one out!

Here is the link to my latest newsletter

In other news… We have had some beautiful weather. Enjoyed a day out with friends at the local picnic races. Caught up many other people I have not seen for ages.

Even had a bet or ten on the horses.

Still writing and editing. Debating how to write one of the scenes for my female protagonist. The poor girl woke up in a hospital only to discover her body is in a coma. The book I am editing is for her sister who just happens to be a bodyguard. Then there is a brand new paranormal shifter story I have started, and two other paranormal books I should have completed a long time ago! My brain keeps on moving forward without contemplating the old. The joys of writing.

Don’t forget the Cyber Monday Sales!

So many books to pick from.The Guy Next DoorDark SurprisesYou Never KnowIt’s YouKept in the Dark of Love and LustInsta Bride

Keep safe

Big hugs to you all.

Black Friday and cyber Monday sales 2021

It is that time of the year with Black Sale specials upon us.

All my single ebooks are reduced down to .99 cents.

If you have not read one of my books, download one and begin the journey into Paranormal Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Romance, or Contemporary Romance.

Fans of Kim Harrison & Charlaine Harris books will enjoy sinking their teeth into this series — Sex, Lies and Family Secrets, with Dark Ones, Vampires, Witches, and Shifters, on my.

My ebooks are available at most ebook stores, so click away.

Insta Bride: https://books2read.com/u/bwveVe – Also, available on Kindle Unlimited

The Guy Next Door: https://books2read.com/u/4A5ndk – Available FREE on most digital outlets.

Dark Surprises: https://books2read.com/u/b62XgW

You Never Know: https://books2read.com/u/m2VwrO

It’s You: https://books2read.com/u/mlakdY

Kept in the Dark of Love and Lust: https://books2read.com/u/mdWdrR

There are plenty of sales the question is what do you really need? What do you require? Remember, a book is always a great idea. Something you can read again, and again. A book can be a good investment at the low price of .99 cents.

Continue on from my last blog on edits and editors

When to look for and use an editor

Are you looking for an editor?

Wondering what you should be doing after you have completed your manuscript…

There are several things you should be doing first.

Do you use a dictionary, thesaurus, grammar book? If not – these books will and can make your writing better, especially before your manuscript sees the light of day.

To help keep costs down, go through your manuscript several times. Clean it up! Have it easy to read. Then, use editing programs such as Grammarly, WritingProAid, Perfected software, and Smart Edits software for cleaning up grammar, punctuation, spelling, replacing words, repeated sentences, extra spaces between words. Plus many other issues. There are usually free trials to these types of software. Use them, practice, and learn which one suits you better before purchasing or subscribing.

As there are many types of editors, performing different tasks which one should you use?
Okay, after you have been through your completed manuscript, place it down for a couple of weeks. Yes. Set it aside and work on something else. You need to look at your manuscript with a fresh pair of eyes. Why? You might be thinking… Simple. By setting aside your manuscript it will give your brain and thought process time to revaluate what you have written. Some paragraphs you might think… ‘What was I thinking?’ When I wrote that! So two weeks or a month later — look thoroughly through the manuscript and make any necessary changes.

Once you are happy with your manuscript. Allow some BETA readers to take a look. Ask them also if they can find typos or wrong words. (I want to paintings — I want two paintings)
Does your work flow? Do the characters make sense? Does the reader connect with the character/s?

Once the feed back arrives read through it. Do you agree? Would you make the changes? Did they come across typos etc.? Give the BETA readers a time frame. Two weeks if necessary. Some will prefer to have a mobi file, so they can read it on their ereader! Be prepared for different formats to hand over to BETA readers. If you do supply a mobi file, send it directly to the BETA reader’s kindle. Request their kindle email address, not their private every day email address.
Make all the necessary changes, then go back through your manuscript.

There are many ways to finding, selecting, and using an editor.

There are many editing practices to keep in mind. Here are some of the editor meanings.
Developmental editing
Copy editing
Line editor
Proofreading

Developmental editing is a thorough and in-depth review of your entire manuscript. It examines all the elements of your writing, from individual words and sentences to overall structure and style. In fiction, this edit will also address any issues related to plot and characterization. Good developmental editing will target your audience in mind and assess your work in relation to industry standards and expectations. Only once your manuscript has been revised, reshaped, and developed will it be ready for a copy edit and proofread.

Copy editing some will say it is the act of fine-tuning a manuscript/book’s text. A copy edit will generally address grammatical or punctuation errors, incorrect facts, anomalies, inconsistencies and glaring typos. Overall, The purpose of copy editing is to ensure that the language supports the writer’s intent — while also creating the most readable version of their book. Professional copy editors can make sure your manuscript isn’t riddled with bad grammar, spelling mistakes, or glaring inconsistencies. They won’t enter into big-picture issues such as characterization, plot or pacing; instead, they will go through the manuscript line by line and focus on all the little things you might not have thought about. They’ll catch scenes in which your antagonist is wearing sunglasses and spectacles at the same time. They’ll save your tone and style from unintentionally wild shifts between sections. They’ll pull your book together page by page. Just remember any editor will change your manuscript, they may improve it, they may not. It is up to you if you agree with their changes. Always use word doc and have the TRACKING turned on. And as I have previously state check your manuscript with editing software several times to remove unnecessary punctuation etc. Also double make sure to fact check your writing before sending to an editor.

Line Editor – A line edit addresses the creative content, writing style, and language use at the sentence and paragraph level. But the purpose of a line edit is not to comb your manuscript for errors – rather, a line edit focuses on the way you use language to communicate your story to the reader. Is your language clear, fluid, and pleasurable to read? Does it convey a sense of atmosphere, emotion, and tone? Do the words you’ve chosen convey a precise meaning, or are you using broad generalizations and clichés?

An editor may draw your attention to:
Words or sentences that are extraneous or overused.
Run-on sentences.
Redundancies from repeating the same information in different ways.
Dialogue or paragraphs that can be tightened.
Scenes where the action is confusing or the author’s meaning is unclear due to bad transitions.
Tonal shifts and unnatural phrasing.
Passages that don’t read well due to bland language use.
Confusing narrative digressions.
Changes that can be made to improve the pacing of a passage.
Words or phrases that may clarify or enhance your meaning.
So basically – Expect your editor to tell you about parts of the manuscript they have discovered – Repetitive errors – Phrasing – Incorrect words/punctuation – Multiple paragraphs starting with same word – Unvarying sentence construction. As I’ve state editing software can pick up on some of these, so keep that in mind.

The purpose of working with a general editor in this way is not just to improve your current manuscript, but to give you the creative tools to become a better writer in ways you can carry with you to future projects. Certain editors might do several tasks in one. Always ask what they can and will do.

Working with a proofreader is the final stage of the editing process. To ensure your book is ready to be formatted and turned into the digital files for ebook and or print book. A proofreader will step in and double-check everything. They’ll make sure that your book is free from spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and other issues that could spoil a reader’s enjoyment of your writing. A professional proofreader not only has a keen eye for detail, but a tried-and-true method for spotting every minor error in your text, from missing commas to misused homophones. They’ll also keep your proof free from typographical and layout issues, such as the wrong typeface in one of your chapter headings, or awkwardly spaced lines within the text. Essentially, a proofreader should have the attention of a devoted reader and the sharp mind of an editor — seeing everything, missing nothing. 
I would prefer to send my book/manuscript back to the BETA readers and see if they can spot any typos, then I would have manuscript formatted. A formatter is the one who sets out the book and how it looks. Why double up on paying someone money when there is no need! I tend to go through my book baby as an ebook, and read it thoroughly. I am amazed what I pick up just by reading it in another format. Some authors also say to read it out loud. Does it make sense when reading out loud. I also try to use while in word doc the feature to read out loud. Even try going from line to line…maybe even backwards to pick up typos and mistakes.

The comma splice – avoid using it. It is not your friend. With today’s manuscripts, keep in mind the audio version, which will eventually become the norm for tomorrow’s books.

If you do not like specific words, then do not use them yourself! A good editor will not use the comma splice. Let the editor know your likes and dislikes.

There will be some overlap between the work of a general editor and a copyeditor. Most developmental editors will point out technical errors or logical inconsistencies when they jump out, because they’re trying to make your writing better, and because editors tend to be perfectionists by disposition (guilty as charged!). But it is not the specific purpose of a line edit to comb through your prose, fix your grammar, typos, capitalize proper nouns, or change all spellings of colour to color because that is for American readers, not British/Australian readers. Remember, there is always different spelling between different countries.

Remember…If your book audience is in the USA, two pet peeves for USA-based editors the words (Altogether & Alright). Here in Australia, we use and spell these words this way, but to use them in your USA reader-based, not a good thing to do. All Together & All Right, should be used instead. Your editing has to be based for the country your book will be released in, or the main reader base. Believe or not, punctuation can also be different between counties.

This is the job of a copyeditor, and it requires a rule-based understanding of standard American English usage that traditional editors don’t have. As such, your copyedit will come with a “style sheet” that explains how these rules and principles apply to specific things in your manuscript. So while your general editor will probably not have the Chicago Manual of Style committed to memory, your copyeditor might. Thus, the Chicago Manual of Style, is another book to keep on your shelf and use!

Please remember! There is one other reason that line editing and copy editing are not the same: copy editing should always come after line edit, never at the same time or before. The page-by-page, sentence-by-sentence content of your manuscript should be completely finalized before being fine-tuned on the level of a copyedit. Because what is the point of spending time (and money) proofreading portions of an early draft that might be significantly altered, or even completely cut, by the time the final draft rolls around? Another reason why I have mentioned going back to your BETA readers!

The wording – Try and – it should be – Try to
Write out numbers one to one hundred; 101 and above, use numerals.

So basically – Expect your editor to tell you about parts of the manuscript they have discovered – Repetitive errors – Phrasing – Incorrect words/punctuation – Multiple paragraphs starting with same word – Unvarying sentence construction. Try to learn your mistakes.

Keep in mind if you had used dictation, chances are it is going to insert errors. Editors will expect you to find those – Site Vs sight. There are many others – There, their, too, to, would, wood, etc.,. The list is long.

He nods his head – he nodded. There are many sentences like this. Try to remember that you do not require the extra words. Don’t even get me started on – ‘He flew through the air.’ Really…! Do you fly in water, mud? There are just some sentences where you do not have to add the extra words.

Punctuation –  No commas or hyphens between hours and minutes, feet and inches, pounds and ounces, and dollars and cents that are spelled out. If the meaning is unclear, rewrite.

When you are creating your manuscript, please remember when inserting the dialogue it does not need to start at the very beginning of a conversation. Instead, you can start the dialogue in the middle of the action. If necessary, you can use exposition to relay the start of the conversation. It’s easy to let your characters ramble on and on. Yes, I can be bad for doing this while I type. But don’t allow dialogue to hijack your novel. Over a (Print Book) page of only dialogue is not good. You will need to break it up with action, and story.
Your dialogue should be the most edited part of your story. Remember that dialogue shouldn’t mimic real life exactly.

Instead, it should resemble a realistic conversation minus all of the non necessary parts that we often forget when we’re recalling a conversation in our minds. But, and I do mean but, do not lose your character. They have their own way of speaking. If you allow your characters to be transformed (by an editor) and their dialogue edited beyond what you prefer to have, the characters will start to resemble one another, and the reader will not be able to distinguish between characters. Each character must have their own voice. Mannerisms, style, hopes, dreams, and annoying habits.

Make sure your facts are correct. Do you have any historic facts in your book? Describing a real town or place? Weapons…guns, knives, swords. A good editor will also check this and bring it to your attention if you have stated one thing and it is actually incorrect. Otherwise, your readers will come down on you like a ton of bricks, and your reviews will suffer.

So, are you confused yet? Is your mind overloaded?

Some interesting tips and tricks to think about.

Surely it must be cuppa time?

Always ask other authors regarding editors. What type of charges, if the editor mainly works in fiction, romance, horror, they have their own genre they work in. There are also different variety of editors. Which one do you require? Some editors might cover two fields of editing not just one. Can you pick one editor and use your BETA readers to help cut costs? It is up to you how to handle the editing process. Another way to finding an editor is via a college. Are there any students learning the field of editing? Approach them. They need the practice and they might not charge you at all. You could always mention them in your acknowledgements in your book – free advertising.

Ask for samples of the editors work also. Plus, send them the first chapter of your manuscript. The editor will need to know if you are a good fit for them, and you need to see what they can do and if they are a good fit for you! Picking an Editor who is super cheap is not always a good thing. The old saying – “You get what you pay for!” Also the most expensive quote for an Editor is not always the best way to pick an experienced and well sort after editor. Do your home work and check around. I have been burnt, before. Someone who was classing themselves off as a qualified Editor, was nothing more than an author who wanted a side income. Anyone can set there word doc settings high to pick up spelling mistakes, and grammar. Using Grammarly and WritingProAid, also would have been cheaper and more helpful to me, than obtaining and using this person as an editor. Mind you this individual had came to me with several author recommendations. Authors I had dealt with in the past. So you never know, what you are going to get. Do more home work. Use an editing software, use the different books to assist you, before approaching an editor.

Always ask questions. If you are not comfortable with an editor, change to another one until you connect with one another. Remember it is your money and book baby.

Good luck

When to look for and use an editor

Are you looking for an editor?

Wondering what you should be doing after you have completed your manuscript…

There are several things you should be doing first.

Do you have on hand a dictionary, thesaurus, grammar book? These books will and can make your writing better, especially before your manuscript sees the light of day.

If your writing audience is in the USA, two pet peeves for USA-based editors the words (Altogether & Alright). Here in Australia, we use and spell these words this way, but to use them in your USA reader-based, not a good thing to do. All Together & All Right, should be used instead. Your editing has to be based for the country your book will be released in, or the main reader base.

To help keep costs down, go through your manuscript several times. Clean it up! Have it easy to read. Then, use editing programs such as Grammarly, WritingProAid, Perfected software, and Smart Edits software for cleaning up grammar, punctuation, spelling, replacing words, repeated sentences, extra spaces between words. Plus many other issues. There are usually free trials to these types of software. Use them, practice, and learn which one suits you better before purchasing or subscribing.

There are many parts to finding and using an editor.

There are many editing practices to keep in mind.

The comma splice – avoid using it. It is not your friend. With today’s manuscripts, keep in mind the audio version, which will eventually become the norm for tomorrow’s books.

If you do not like specific punctuation usage , . – ; : or certain words, then do not use them yourself. A good editor will not use the comma splice.

The wording – Try and – it should be – Try to

So basically – Expect your editor to tell you about parts of the manuscript they have discovered – Repetitive errors – Phrasing – Incorrect words/punctuation – Multiple paragraphs starting with same word – Unvarying sentence construction.

Keep in mind if you had used dictation, chances are it is going to insert errors. Editors will expect you to find those – (Consul Vs console) (Site Vs sight) There are many others – There, their, too, to, would, wood, etc.,.

He nods his head – he nodded. There are many sentences like this. Try to remember that you do not require the extra words.

Make sure your facts are correct. A good editor will also check this and bring it to your attention if you have stated one thing and it is actually incorrect. Otherwise, your readers will come down on you like a ton of bricks.

Some interesting tips and tricks.

Always ask other authors regarding editors. What type of charges, if the editor is more for fiction, romance, horror, they have their own genre they work in. There are also different variety of editors. Which one do you require?

Ask for samples of their work also.

Always ask questions.

Good luck

October is here!

Wow. Is it just me, or has the year progressed a little fast this year…

Ok. I am home, back to the colder weather. My knees are already informing me to move to a warmer climate! I agree with them.

I have been off and about travelling in the warmer state of Queensland. Yep. The land of the warmer sunshine! I think someone better remind Mother Nature of that quote.

We had a lot of overcast weather. Rain. Sunshine. A few hot days, did I mention the rain? Yes, we had a lot of rain for more than half our trip.

I ended up rolling my ankle of all things, walking as you do. Nothing out of the ordinary, and I managed to roll my ankle! The swelling and bruising came out. My foot still has bruising.

I managed to write one contemporary. I started on another. Made edits to the first one—a few added words to a couple of other WIP’s. And I also managed to work on a couple of client’s digital files for their fantastic book baby’s!

There were times where I had no phone signal at all. No tv reception. I went gold panning and discovered gold! Only tiny little specks, but I found gold until I lost them.

I also went to a sapphire mine. I did some sorting with wash (known as a pile of rocks with any luck with sapphires in it.) Found a few sapphires, but nothing big enough to retire. Only little things not worth very much. (Bugger) But it was fun.

I went to a crocodile farm and did the tour.

Stayed where cassowaries live and roam. Still did not see any.

In one place, instead of seeing a croc where we had our campsite, a shark came right up to the shore. Yep, a shark. It was chasing fish.

I caught up with friends and family along the way. One of them being my old school friend. We had met way back when we were ten years old.

Checked out the Bundaberg Rum distillery. Did the tour. Met the Bundy bear. And yes tried the rum while there. I prefer the spiced rum.

I missed seeing the turtles and their babies—the wrong time of the year.

Drove through a lot of road works.

Visited a free zoo. That was fun.

Saw a man-made crystal cave. I even got to crack a geode. Lovely displays of all sorts of crystals from around the world and many fossils.

I went to the place where people from all around the world and Australia form and make rock piles. And yes, I made a rock pile!

I went on the Cairns sky rail and caught the old train back again, learning all about when the train line was constructed.

Slowly drove through hundreds of head of cattle while grazing along the road where the grass was still growing – otherwise, the area was dry and dusty. Grass in the paddocks was scarce.

I managed to do many things, see many more. Witness the country from lush and green to dry, desert and dry.

It has been a fantastic time away. There are many places I would love to visit again and others I would pass and go somewhere else.

If you have the chance to leave your house and travel, or even a day trip, do it.

Now, as the end of the month is almost here, what are you planning for Halloween?

I would prefer to have two completed contemporary books by then…fingers crossed.

Wherever you might be, please keep safe.

Until next time.

M. L. Tompsett – author.

A few pics of my travels.

Make sure to keep an eye out for my next book!

Looking for a new book?

Hello everyone, are you looking for a new book to read? Maybe a new author to discover. During the month of August on Facebook a book fair is being hosted by a mixture of talented authors. Plus take a look at the webpage for a selection of .99 cents specials, including my book an urban fantasy – Kept in the Dark of Love and Lust.
https://bit.ly/3BNygG5

August book fair

Take a look and enjoy the journey.

Writing there is no quick way to a manuscript

Have you written a manuscript and typed The End at the bottom on the last page and wonder what you do next?

Whether it is fiction or non-fiction, do not rush off and fall into the trap of publishing the pages of your manuscript, thinking it will be the next bestseller.

Sadly life does not turn into a wonderful fictional world of instant success. Even the big-name authors have had to take a step back while someone held their manuscript/writing life in their hands, wondering if their manuscript will be good enough.

So what should one do…?

Say you are writing fiction. The first step to do is, do not print it out. Keep it as a digital word doc on your computer and place that manuscript away in its very own folder for a couple of weeks or so. Why? When you have just slaved your heart, sweat, and soul into this work of art, all those typed pages of text.

Because you need to step back and approach your work with a fresh set of eyes, if someone had said this to me at the beginning of my journey, my first few books would either have been reworked, changed, and not published at all. Don’t get me wrong. I would have somehow still published my book baby, but I would have looked at them from a different perspective and handled things differently.

Next: When you are ready, save the original file and keep it in the folder. Next, please save a copy and rename it using a different name or add a number at the end of the file name to tell the version you’re working on apart from the original, then highlight the whole manuscript/word doc, and change the line spacing at least 1.5 or double. Finally, increase the font size to make it easier to read.

Then the long step of reading your book baby, and updating and changing words, paragraphs around. Does your book flow? Does it make sense? Is the character’s name correct throughout the book? You might laugh now, but it has been known to happen where a character might be named Timmy and comes out through the book on different pages as Tommy or Ted.

Check in the search bar and check how many words ending in LY you have.

The -LY suffix is an excellent way to describe how something, or how often, something is done. While not a hard and fast rule, and there are certainly many exceptions, spotting the – LY ending in a word is frequently a good indicator that you’re looking at an adverb.

Many adverbs end in – LY, but not all of them do. Common adverbs that don’t end in – LY include “very” and “never.”
Remember – An adverb is the part of speech that describes, modifies, or provides more information about a verb in a sentence. An adverb can also be used to alter or qualify adjectives, other adverbs, or whole word groups. This means many adverbs in the English language end with the suffix – LY, since this is a quick and easy way to turn an adjective into an adverb.

For instance, the adjective “sad” transforms into the adverb “sadly” by adding – LY to the end. The same is true where “perfect” becomes “perfectly.”

Common Adverbs Ending with – LY This list is understandably not completely exhaustive. For even more examples of adverbs, be sure to read our list of 100 adverbs. However, here are 64 examples of adverbs ending with – LY to get you started:

accidentally

accusingly

adamantly

angrily

anxiously

argumentatively

automatically

badly

beautifully

boldly

bravely

breathlessly

carefully

certainly

correctly

dangerously

dutifully

eagerly

effortlessly

evenly

eventually

finally

foolishly

frequently

generally

generously

gladly

gracefully

greatly

happily

heartily

highly

horrifyingly

hungrily

ironically

loudly

lovely

lowly

massively

motionlessly

mournfully

necessarily

normally

painstakingly

partially

perfectly

practically

pragmatically

promptly

proudly

quickly

quietly

roughly

sadly

separately

sharply

shortly

slowly

smoothly

softly

spitefully

suddenly

thankfully wrongly

Adverbs With – LY in Sentences
One of the best ways to understand how adverbs work is to see them in action in some sample sentences. She looked upon the creature inquisitively. George has been lazily lounging around the house all day. I’m afraid the knight was mortally wounded in battle. Nervously, Alice turned the knob and opened the door. And they lived merrily ever after. The circumstances rapidly changed overnight. As he turned sharply, the parcel flew out the window. They embraced one another warmly. Sara took her time, but she got there eventually. The committee hastily organized the event for the weekend.  

Adverbs With – LY in Sentences
One of the best ways to understand how adverbs work is to see them in action in some sample sentences.

She looked upon the creature inquisitively.George has been lazily lounging around the house all day.I’m afraid the knight was mortally wounded in battle.Nervously, Alice turned the knob and opened the door.And they lived merrily ever after.The circumstances rapidly changed overnight.As he turned sharply, the parcel flew out the window.They embraced one another warmly.Sara took her time, but she got there eventually.The committee hastily organized the event for the weekend.

Use Adverbs Correctly

Exercise a watchful eye when you’re using adverbs, as people often used them incorrectly, getting them confused with adjectives. For example, a very common error that people make is to say “I ran to the store quick” or “He runs very quick.” This is not the proper usage of the word “quick.”

In these sentences, “quick” is modifying “ran” and “runs.” Those words are verbs and need to be modified by an adverb, not an adjective. Therefore, the appropriate form of the term to use is “quickly.” The adjective “good” and adverb “well” are also often used interchangeably, but that’s not always correct either. Read our article on When to Use Good and When to Use Well to learn more about this common confusing issue.

Then remember the show not tell – rule!
Don’t get me started.

It’s the first rule of writing, for a good reason, they say. Show – is about using description and action to help the reader experience the story. Tell – is when the author summarizes or uses exposition to simply tell the reader what is happening.

So basically – The difference between show and tell is that show invokes on the reader a mental image of the scene/emotion, while tell is a statement of an action/emotion.

For a Tell detail – is a short description, sometimes only a few words, that precisely captures the essence of a character or setting. So a word, phrase, or image that helps the reader “see” what you’re describing. … It’s one thing that has meaning and says a lot with very few words. It pulls the reader into the experience of the story. The correct detail at just the right time connects your reader with your character

Ok, so you have been check over all your LY ending words with verbs/adverbs, then there is the show/tell.

What about the punctuation and grammar? Talking dialogue.

Oh, yes, the fun has only just begun!

A punctuation mark is then used after the reporting clause, before the next set of speech marks. The second section of direct speech ends with the punctuation mark inside the speech marks. Gotta luv it. Is your head hurting you yet?

Now this will do your head in!

In the United States, the rule of thumb is that commas and periods always go inside the quotation marks, and colons and semicolons (dashes as well) go outside: “There was a storm last night,” Mary said.

In the UK, each section of direct speech should end with a punctuation mark. If there is no reporting clause, then this is likely to be a full stop, question mark, or exclamation mark: … If there is a reporting clause, then there is often a comma before the final speech marks: ‘I think we should go inside now,’ said Sally.

So the catch is, where is your book going to be released? Who will be your main reading audience – the USA or UK? Why… because the way spelling, punctuation is handled is different between the two countries, and readers will complain that the book is not punctuated or spelling has been checked.

Add a comma before the opening speech marks. Open and close speech with speech marks (or inverted commas). Begin what is spoken with a capital letter. End the line of speech with a comma, exclamation mark, or question mark.

So remember, in British and Australian English, it all comes down to the carrier sentence (i.e., the sentence that contains the quotation). … If the quoted material would have contained the punctuation mark in the absence of any interruption, the punctuation mark stays inside the closing quotation mark. Plus, a lot of the spelling is the same.

Plus, the difference between single and double inverted commas?

In America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, the general rule are that double quotes are used to denote direct speech. Single quotes are used to enclose a quote within a quote, a quote within a headline, or a title within a quote.

So In British English, quotation marks are called inverted commas, and the single ones are used more frequently than the double for direct speech. … to mark off a word or phrase that’s being discussed or that’s being directly quoted from somewhere else.

Did you get the hint? There are four punctuating direct speech rules.

Once you have reworked your manuscript, changing words and paragraphs, checking on the punctuation and grammar, and you feel your story is complete, save it, and put it aside for another week or so.

Save a copy changing the last number or letter in the file name. Then repeat the process of reading through your book baby. Make any changes you think you need.

Now print it out!

And reread through the manuscript – book baby.

Make more changes and update the digital version.

If you belong to a writers group, ask one of your fellow colleagues if they would be interested to read it for you. Ask them what they think. Does it flow? How are the world-building and characters?

After forming a couple of opinions and yes, everyone is different, make any necessary changes, save a copy, and rename it first. Next, search for editors in your area. There are a variety of editors, and they can be very expensive. Do your research.

Once you have had your book baby edited and read by several people and you think your book baby is ready to be published, you can either contact a publishing house and research who is the correct person to speak with. Follow their set-out for word doc’s settings and go from there.

Or you can become an indie author.

You will need to have your word doc formatted into the digital files — for either a PDF for print or epub for ebook.

Do you require an ISBN?

In the country you are in, do you require an ISBN?
An ISBN – International Standard Book Number. ISBNs were 10 digits in length up to the end of December 2006, but since 1 January 2007, they now always consist of 13 digits. ISBNs are calculated using a specific mathematical formula and include a check digit to validate the number.

An ISBN identifies the registrant, title, edition, and format of products used by publishers, bookstores, libraries, etc., and is essential for ordering, sales reporting, and inventory control. In addition, an ISBN increases the chances that your book will be found.

You will need to follow several steps to become an Indie Author, and that information is for another day and blog. So for now, good luck and have fun writing your book baby.

May is here!

Hello everyone.
I hope you are keeping well.

As yet, I have not been able to receive the covid vaccine. First, I was not in the correct category to be eligible. Now it seems to be something else preventing me from getting the jab. A month ago, I had the flu vax. And as I type, I am recovering from a nasty bout of the dreaded germs and viruses which are going around. At first, I had managed to dodge it at each turn, but… it seems to wear me down finally, and now I am bed-bound.

I have completed the first draft to The bodyguard’s convenient marriage. Now for the edits to take place, then more revisions and then more edits.

I have finally added more words to Kept in the Dark of love and deceit. All going well over this weekend I will add more words to What you Know.

At one point I had been busy thinking of a new design for a coffee mug and new bookmark! I am still creating different designs. It does not help when my program saves over the original. But there are other designs on the board.

They say it is meant to be one of the coldest days today! What is the weather where you are?

It is cold where I am, but I am also snug in my bed.

I recently had a sale for It’s You. Did you manage to grab a copy at the reduced price? Google store still have a May sale. Be quick.
Amazon Kobo

And also to all the fabulous people who are in the role of mother in a child’s life. I hope you managed to have a wonderful Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day.

Well, look at the time, I would say it is cuppa time!

Make sure to look after yourselves. Keep warm, safe and stay healthy.