Joylene Nowell Butler's Blog, page 3

IWSG – Dec 2022 – Did Someone Say Christmas?!

Ninja Captain Alex J Cavanaugh created IWSG — because Alex understands we need a place to congregate, insecurity is part of our creative nature, and together we’re stronger.

On the first Wednesday of each month, you can write on any subject related to your writing journey or adopt the option of answering the month’s question. Either way, you’re in safe territory.

If this sounds good to you, sign up here.

IWSG’s Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and the hashtag is #IWSG.

Every month, a specific question is offered, which may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or a story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you struggle with something to say.

Remember, the question is optional!

The awesome co-hosts for the December 7 posting of the IWSG are Chemist Ken, Natalie Aguirre, Nancy Gideon, Cathrina Constantine!  …and yours truly.December 7 question – It’s holiday time! Are the holidays a time to catch up or fall behind on writer goals?

Recently, someone asked, “Can you believe Christmas is in 20 days?” Christmas! Isn’t it still summer?!

November 5, 2022

one of many visitors last summer.

I won’t bore you with my brain freeze, suffice it to say I’m skipping this month’s question in favour of sharing how interesting November was.

To begin with, it was the first time I’d seen snow since 2013!

We generally leave Canada between Halloween and the Day of the Dead. After spending two years in Mexico, I’d forgotten what was involved in the metamorphosis from one climate to the next.

Fall in Canada was amazing. Sadly, we were unprepared when one day it was 22C (71F) and a few days later it dropped to -22C (-8F). Our above-ground water lines froze. Not good!

High winds blew a tree down and at the very top was a hornet’s nest.

If you’ve read earlier posts, you’ve heard we settled onto our property at Cluculz Lake after wandering about for 4 years. We bought a winter-packaged RV, constructed a steel canopy over it, dug a well, installed utilities, and even purchased a Telus Hub. Our summer home: serene, quiet, the perfect abode for writing. Which I didn’t do. Landscaping, minimalizing, and 5 months of prepping for a month-long garage sale took precedence.

I actually would have stayed past November but an RV in winter is no place for this girl. Did you know: we rank 3rd as the coldest country on earth? I knew that. By October 25th, we had two wool blankets on the bed, and I still sported fuzzy PJs, socks, ankle warmers, and a balaclava every night. It is important to keep the head warm.

When we conceded that we had better leave, the earliest available flight wasn’t until November 12th. By the 10th we were in a hotel room in the city an hour away but close to the airport. That’s where things started going haywire.

We were due to arrive in Vancouver on the 11th to catch the flight the next morning for Puerto Vallarta. Only I got mixed up by the different flight times and had the taxi pick us up at 5 am thinking our PG flight was at 6:30 instead of noon which, in my defence it generally is.

Luckily, the cabby took it upon himself to check the flight status on the way. Upon discovering my mistake, he turned around, drove us back to our room and returned for us at 10 am. I tried napping. Nope, not happening.

On a side note, he was driving a 2012 Prius. The inside was spacious, and I was impressed having never been in one before. The wow factor was the speedometer showed 600,000 km! In ten years the only thing he’d ever done was change the battery. If you’re in the market for a new vehicle –?

So anyway, we caught our flight and arrived in Vancouver — minus our suitcase!

It was then that I remembered sitting in my seat on the PG tarmac, glancing out the window in time to see them carting the luggage over to the other plane’s conveyor belt. I’m toasty warm, like a bug in a rug, thinking to myself, “Someone on their way to Calgary has an identical suitcase to mine. What are the chances?”   Apparently, none.

My husband couldn’t have cared less. We arrived in Vancouver–I did not cry. I wanted to. But on a bright note, there was a Dollar Tree and a Michael’s across from our hotel room, where I was able to purchase a toothbrush, paste, a hairbrush, and deodorant.

The next day my suitcase was on the carousel when we arrived in PV. Do you hear a “but” coming?

The airport was busting at the seams. None of the gates were free. There were no busses, no mobile stairs; and the Captain said he didn’t feel comfortable asking us to jump from the plane.

Ninety minutes later when we were finally bussed to the terminal, we walked through the airport and were outside in less than 8 minutes. Of course, our friend was thrilled to see us even though he had waited in the scorching heat for over two hours!

Oh, and … sometime between the end of April and December 2, our internet modem died. Did I mention I don’t do well off grid?

So, yes, it was an interesting November but everything turned out well. Actually, everything always does.

Maybe next time I tell you what it was like having no internet for three weeks.  Or not…

 

 

We did have a lot of company this past summer. Some uninvited.

 

 

Baby see Baby do

 

Next year there will be a deck that extends out 8′ past the awning.

The post IWSG – Dec 2022 – Did Someone Say Christmas?! appeared first on Joylene Nowell Butler.

IWSG – Oct 2022 – Suspense Keeps Me Sane

Ninja Captain Alex J Cavanaugh created IWSG — because Alex understands we need a place to congregate, insecurity is part of our creative nature, and together we’re stronger.

On the first Wednesday of each month, you can write on any subject related to your writing journey or adopt the option of answering the month’s question. Either way, you’re in safe territory.

If this sounds good to you, sign up here.

IWSG’s Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and the hashtag is #IWSG.

Every month, a specific question is offered, which may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or a story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you struggle with something to say.

Remember, the question is optional!

The awesome co-hosts for the October 5 posting of the IWSG are Tonja Drecker, Victoria Marie Lees, Mary Aalgaard, and Sandra Cox!

My go-to answer for this month’s question: What do you consider the best characteristics of your favourite genre? is (in alphabetical order):

Adrenaline rushAnticipationConflictEmpathyHeroIntensityPacing

(If you missed my title…) Isn’t it interesting that these elements can be assigned to any genre?

In and of itself, Suspense keeps us committed to reading the story by drawing on our emotions.

One of the best characteristics of my dear husband is his ability to make me laugh. Even in the worst of times. He has other wonderful traits. He’s unique. A one-of-a-kind, special human being. He supports me, listens and accepts me in ways I can’t say because I’ll cry.

The best characteristic of Suspense is it has caused me to be a witness to the past. Like Dear Husband, Suspense is my catharsis.

I started writing because I couldn’t cope with losing my dad. The autobiography took seven years to write. Years later when dear husband and I experienced a devastating loss, I wrote a novel about a mother torn from her family and placed in the Witness Protection program. When 911 happened, I wrote a novel about a Soviet fighting the KGB to save an American soldier. After my neighbour murdered our friend (you get the picture) I wrote a novel about a Metis terrorized by a psycho stalker. Sadly, more tragedy and I wrote a novel about a mother who loses her two adult sons and slowly relinquishes her mind. I just completed a manuscript about the isolation and loneliness of a husband after his wife is killed in a hit-and-run. Instead of agreeing to surgery to remove brain tumours, he travels to Britain for retribution.

I wrote my first manuscript (shelved) to honour the memory of my dad. Hooked on the process, I wrote five more novels. I didn’t purposely write to release the pain that life can throw at you. I wrote because I am a writer. It wasn’t until completing the second manuscript that I realized I was channelling grief through creative writing.

The plots of my stories were spun to fit the element of intrigue and fiction; (I am a storyteller, after all). The names were changed, but the themes were taken from my life. (Remember the advice: write what you know?)

I could say that I made these morbid stories publishable through edits and revisions, but the truth is all my novels contain the characteristics in the list above. They also end in hope and faith in the future.

Writing Suspense is me bearing witness to life. Writing Suspense enabled me to persevere. Because of that, I hope to write a children’s book next.

Before I forget, my ideas for my novels come from everyday questions: What if…?

Some images of suspense:

Have you ever written something for mental health benefits?

Thanks for visiting. Now I’m off to read your posts.–namastejoyleneps. I’m celebrating my 10th year with IWSG!

The post IWSG – Oct 2022 – Suspense Keeps Me Sane appeared first on Joylene Nowell Butler.

IWSG – Sept 2022 – AllAuthor Interview

Ninja Captain Alex J Cavanaugh created IWSG — because Alex understands we need a place to congregate, insecurity is part of our creative nature, and together we’re stronger.

On the first Wednesday of each month, you can write on any subject related to your writing journey or adopt the option of answering the month’s question. Either way, you’re in safe territory.

If this sounds good to you, sign up here.

IWSG’s Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and the hashtag is #IWSG.

Every month, a specific question is offered, which may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or a story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you struggle with something to say.

Remember, the question is optional!

September 7 question – What genre would be the worst one for you to tackle and why?

The awesome co-hosts for the September 7 posting of the IWSG are Kim Lajevardi, Cathrina Constantine, Natalie Aguirre, Olga Godim, Michelle Wallace, and Louise – Fundy Blue!

Be sure to visit the
Insecure Writer’s Support Group Website!

Writing erotica would be so far out of my comfort zone that I’d rather go to the dentist and have all my teeth pulled. Please know that I’m not judging anyone who writes in that genre, but I can’t do it. Nor can I read it or watch it. I can’t write rape scenes either, or any scene where a child is murdered or an animal is beaten.

I say this yet I wrote a scene in the opening three chapters of Broken But Not Dead where Brendell Meshango is the victim of a home invasion. Its realism scared me so much that I pulled the scene, only to realize its absence left a huge hole in the plot. My editor and later my publisher assured me readers would not be disturbed because they expect Thrillers to be tense and frightening. And Brendell wasn’t sexually assaulted; it was a psychological thriller. It’s my own fault that I can’t separate myself from my characters. I experienced Brendell’s fear and scared myself.

In my manuscript Shattered, a dog is hit and killed. Although you don’t see it happen, it’s talked about a lot. I can’t show an animal or a child being killed but I can stretch the limits of my creative license and imply that bad stuff happens behind the scenes. I just can’t experience it. I had to leave the theatre before the wolf in Dancing With Wolves was killed. And as a child, I would go outside if Lassie was lost and trying to get home. Even today I can’t watch veterinarian shows because an animal might die.

In my latest novel Kiss of the Assassin, there’s a firefight scene in Vietnam where multiple soldiers are killed.

I know, I am an enigma…

Shattered is finished and has been set aside so I can concentrate on landscaping. I’m nursing the lawn, taking care to empty the grey water holding tanks onto the lawn, and filling the patches with lawn seed. I’m also emptying the c-cans and doing all the other stuff related to living. The work that needed to be done on our raw land was daunting but gratifying. Time sped past. Soon we’ll leave for Bucerias (November) and I’ll resume writing.

The most interesting thing to happen to me since April (besides moving into our RV) has been downsizing and adopting a minimalist lifestyle. It’s a process that is bittersweet. I’ve decluttered 90% of our stuff. There are moments when I feel sad, but mostly I feel as if I’ve been freed from all our “stuff”. I’ve learned to let the tears flow while donating most of my mother’s things.

What I’m not able to sell or donate, I’m storing away. Hopefully, one day what’s left will matter to someone in the family. If it doesn’t, it won’t matter. I won’t be here. Meanwhile, I’m embracing this minimalist lifestyle because I’m sparing the environment from my overspending, I’m decluttering every single bit of space in our home, and I’m letting my eyes relax while they take in the spaciousness around us.

I’m including some self-promotion below if you have time. Mady Joshi interviewed me recently from AllAuthors. I enjoyed his questions. They reminded me that I’ve had a good life. I just wish it wasn’t going by so fast.

 

 

An award-winning author, Joylene Nowell Butler began her first novel in 1984 to honor her father’s memory. She grew up on a farm in Maple Ridge B.C., Canada, a farm surrounded by maple trees. She has always felt extremely fulfilled while writing. Her first novel, Dead Witness became a finalist in the 2012 Global eBook Awards. Read full interview…

The post IWSG – Sept 2022 – AllAuthor Interview appeared first on Joylene Nowell Butler.

IWSG – August 2022 – Haunted

Ninja Captain Alex J Cavanaugh created IWSG — because Alex understands we need a place to congregate, insecurity is part of our creative nature, and together we’re stronger.

On the first Wednesday of each month, you can write on any subject related to your writing journey or adopt the option of answering the month’s question. Either way, you’re in safe territory.

If this sounds good to you, sign up here.

IWSG’s Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and the hashtag is #IWSG.

Every month, a specific question is offered, which may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or a story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you struggle with something to say.

Remember, the question is optional!

August 3 question – When you set out to write a story, do you try to be more original, or do you try to give readers what they want?

The awesome co-hosts for the August 3 posting of the IWSG are Tara Tyler, Lisa Buie Collard, Loni Townsend, and Lee Lowery!

Be sure to visit the
Insecure Writer’s Support Group Website!

My characters are the catalyst behind my first draft. (What!) Okay, that’s not entirely true. It’s more about me being haunted by these “characters.”  I was going to write “forces,” but that’s too eerie, and I’m not delusional. I know they aren’t real. (truly). They’re figments of my imagination. The reason I write the book.

While we’re on the subject: I was tested and I am a Pantser. A haunted Pantser. But also someone who spends a lot of time with her characters before ever writing a word. Freud would have had so much fun with me.

I’m mentioning all this because I can’t remember ever being this busy; (this is ludicrous — I raised five boys) consequently, I believe I may be rambling. A lot.

I’ve been working all summer on the landscape surrounding our RV, helping with our utility hookups, and to top that off, I’m preparing for a giant garage sale.

Why? (I keep asking myself)

Because we moved from a 2700 sq ft home five years ago and placed the remainder of our belongings into two 40′ c-cans on our property across the road, where we are now. And there is no way I’m getting much more than the basics inside an RV.

This is “not” why I’m adopting a minimalist lifestyle. Have you read The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning?<Our new abode:Our old abode:

The work never seems to be done. We plan to construct a 12′ deck (4′ extending past the awning) for as much outdoor living as possible. I wouldn’t be surprised if we screen in the deck at some point and maybe a surrounding deck.

A month ago we were surrounded by dirt.

What does all this have to do with this month’s question?

Nothing.

As soon as I catch my breath, I will finish my WIP so my protagonist will leave me be.

The post IWSG – August 2022 – Haunted appeared first on Joylene Nowell Butler.

Using SCRIVENER by Hank Quense

Using Scrivener to Hold a Collection

Scrivener https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview is a flexible software program that is well known as a popular way to write books, both fiction and non-fiction.

I’ve written more than 20 books using this program. During this time, I’ve found that one of the main features is its adaptability. Scrivener’s uses are not limited to books. It is an excellent program to create and store collections of various types of writing other than books. I use it as a repository for short stories and articles.  In these applications, I have to modify the usual information in the right sidebar.  The graphic  below illustrates this sidebar when used with a novel.

In the graphic, I have a chapter heading with the chapter’s scenes listed below the heading.  Using an ordinary word processor, the chapters and scenes would probably be a series of separate files while in Scrivener everything is a single file.

For my short story collection, I replaced chapter headings with genre such as fantasy or sci-fi. I then added the complete short story in place of a scene under the appropriate chapter heading. In the left sidebar, I add publication information. This gives me an easy way to retrieve the short stories for republication instead of searching through voluminous files on my hard drive.

 

 

Similarly with articles, the chapter headings are replaced with fiction writing, self-publishing, book marketing etc and the articles replace scenes.

Both of these applications have extensive content, but retrieving any story or article is easy.

I’ve built another Scrivener collection for my Faux News Network reports.  These are short satiric reports containing fake news.  In this collection, the chapter headings are replaced with the year the report was issued.

With Scrivener, collections such as mine are only limited by the creativity of the user.  Possibilities include poetry, recipes, correspondence and more.

~ ~ ~

I also publish articles on Medium, several a week.  Sign up to read them at hanque99.medium.com

If you looking for help with fiction writing, self-publishing or book marketing, check out the resources on https://writersarc.com

 

For vacations, Hank and Pat usually visit distant parts of the galaxy. Occasionally, they also time-travel.

Besides writing novels, Hank lectures on fiction writing, publishing and book marketing. He is most proud of his talk showing grammar school kids how to create a short story. He used these lectures to create an advanced ebook with embedded videos to coach the students on how to create characters, plots and settings. The target audience is 4th to 7th graders. The book’s title is Fiction Writing Workshop for Kids.

Blogs & Books

Hank’s Amazon Page Creating a Story

How to Self-publish and Market a Book

Writers & Authors Resource Center 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The post Using SCRIVENER by Hank Quense appeared first on Joylene Nowell Butler.

IWSG – July 2022 – Feeling Insecure

IWSG was created by Ninja Captain Alex J Cavanaugh — because Alex understands we need a safe place to congregate, insecurity is part of our creative nature, and together we’re stronger.

On the first Wednesday of each month, you can write on any subject related to your writing journey or adopt the option of answering the month’s question. Either way, you’re in safe territory.

If this sounds like a good place to be, sign up here.

IWSG’s Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and the hashtag is #IWSG.

July 6 question – If you could live in any book world, which one would you choose?The hosts for this month are:

J Lenni Dorner, Janet Alcorn, PJ Colando, Jenni Enzor, and Diane Burton!

Be sure to visit the
Insecure Writer’s Support Group Website!

I can’t answer this month’s question because there are too many books to mention. If I love a book I live it. Sometimes for weeks or months. Classics like Gone with the Wind, The Christmas Carol, War and Peace, and Polar Express, to name a few. There are hundreds.

Instead, I’m writing about being insecure. While I have faced far greater hardships, lately, my insecure-ness has been heavy with its presence.

I’m cringing that I’m actually admitting this but … after finally getting Kiss of the Assassin published after trying for 30 years, I thought all book sales would soar.

I’m looking up just in case the ceiling comes crashing down on my head. I’m tempted to delete the whole post in favour of writing about something else. Wallowing is a horrible feeling. The only good part is I’m at the age where no emotion goes unheeded. For whatever reason, I’m wallowing. It might even be a good reason. I hope it’s a good reason. Seems a waste of time otherwise.

When I started out, being self-published meant you were lower than the lowest. When I found a publisher after I self-published Dead Witness,  I felt vindicated. I know, that’s silly, but since I’m being honest, that’s how I felt. Someone, other than me, thought my writing was good.

Now, here I am, the author of four suspense novels, and no breakout novel.

Inside my head, I hear, “Would you like cheese with that whine?”

These days you’ll find me with a shovel instead of a keyboard. We’re landscaping and there is no end to the rocks. Before I stop whining and go off to read your posts and then get back to raking rocks, I would like to say my feet, hands, back, and knees hurt. Did I mention my hands hurt? I also feel the overwhelming urge to admit — I feel guilty because I haven’t been marketing Kiss of the Assassin to the extent that I should. I’m outside all day. When I come in at night to make supper, I’m too exhausted to open my MacBook. After dinner, I sit in my lazy boy and Dear Husband sits in his. While supposedly watching tv, we’re actually competing to see who can snore louder. Dear Husband generally wins.

I hear that voice again, trying to give me cheese.

I know this sense of failure will pass. But I needed to come clean. I wanted you to know that even old-timers like me experience these bouts of uncertainty. It won’t keep me down long.

It was Date Night yesterday and DH and I went to the big city for supplies. We also saw Top Gun at the matinee. I’m mentioning this in case you’re on the fence about seeing it. Great movie, that should definitely be seen on the big screen.

 

The post IWSG – July 2022 – Feeling Insecure appeared first on Joylene Nowell Butler.

IWSG – June 2022 – When The Going Gets Tough

IWSG was created by Ninja Captain Alex J Cavanaugh — because Alex understands we need a safe place to congregate, insecurity is part of our creative nature, and together we’re stronger.

On the first Wednesday of each month, you can write on any subject related to your writing journey or adopt the option of answering the month’s question. Either way, you’re in safe territory.

If this sounds like a good place to be, sign up here.

IWSG’s Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and the hashtag is #IWSG.

June 1 question – When the going gets tough writing the story, how do you keep yourself writing to the end?  If you have not started the writing yet, why do you think that is and what do you think could help you find your groove and start?

The hosts for this month are:

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

Cathrina Constantine http://cathrinaconstantine.blogspot.com

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

SE White https://sewhitebooks.com/

and me.

Be sure to visit the
Insecure Writer’s Support Group Website!

In answer to this month’s question…

I struggled for four years to write the last 4000 words of my unpublished manuscript, Shattered. I wish I could simplify the answer, but the truth is I forced myself to persevere. I stopped the negative spiel about how I’d started writing Shattered in my head back in 2006 and didn’t start the first chapter until 2007. Other stuff was going on during that period, but still…

In 2017, we sold our house and moved across the road to our property to live in our 5th wheel. After wintering in Bucerias, in 2018, we drove across Canada to New Brunswick to go camping for two summers with our grandchildren. I promised myself that this time I’d definitely finish Shattered. I only had three/four chapters to write. How hard could it be? I’d already published three times, and another manuscript was finished. What was one more completed manuscript?

Apparently, quite an undertaking.

After promising myself in 2017, 2018, 2019, and again in 2020, Covid arrived. And life changed. I realized I needed to switch directions. Whatever I was doing wasn’t working. I stopped making promises. I reached out to close friends about how they saw the ending to the story. I knew I couldn’t use their suggestions—I needed the element of surprise—but it was okay; their enthusiasm was contagious.

I followed creative writing blogs, I read great suspense novels, and studied Alex Sokoloff’s lessons on dissecting 3-act plays. I wrote numerous possible endings, each one a tiny bit better than the last, until one day I knew I was done. I put the manuscript away for a time, proofread it, then sent it to my editor. She loved it!

God Bless Editors!

Kiss of the Assassin was published in March 2022, which drove me into a marketing frenzy. I’m not sure about sales, but to be honest, I don’t have the energy to dwell on them. It’s been a crazy time since I returned to Canada after two years in Mexico. In case I didn’t mention, during Covid, we couldn’t return home because we didn’t have a winter home to return to.

So much has changed since 2020. The price of “everything” is depressing; I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that. Everyone is affected. Here in BC, it’s terrible. Prices have skyrocketed. BC used to stand for British Columbia. Now it stands for Bring Cash.

Before Covid, we planned on building a tiny home here at Cluculz Lake.

I won’t go into it but aside from prices tripling, building regulations are out of this world. After serious consideration, my dear husband and I scrapped the idea of building a house and bought a winter-packaged RV instead. Age and time factored into this decision.

Last year he had hydro installed. Last month our water was hooked up, and soon we’ll have our septic tank installed. Soon means another month. 

It’s a long story, but it was vital to my peace of mind that I have a place to come home to here in Canada. I love Mexico but in my heart I am Canadian.

My hands ache from raking rocks out of the soil so we could plant grass seeds to cut down on the mud. The minute the seeds were in the ground it stopped raining and hasn’t rained since. (haha) We have water (yay) but so far no hose. I don’t blame you if you’re laughing. I’ve been to three different hardware stores this week and never remembered the hose. I was there Monday for a pipe elbow for the grey water tank drain. Forgot the hose. The nearest hardware store is 39 klicks away.

(As of this morning, we have the sprinkler on. Yes, I bought a hose yesterday. I even remembered the pump to drain the grey water tank in the ground behind the washhouse! I did forget the shower though. Oh hum.)

Relentless raking… We turned our old log cabin that my husband and son built 22 years ago into our washhouse to facilitate our progress. Meaning that’s where our pressure tank, washing, dryer, and hot water tank are. We’ll add a shower as soon as I remember to buy one.Don’t let the ground’s hard surface fool you; there’s no end to the rocks.My laundry room (slash) wash house! I am one happy launderer.We ordered a steel canopy (similar to the one in the photo below) from Chilliwack and it should be here in 2 weeks. Once that’s up, we’ll shirt the RV, then build the deck, which will run the full length of the trailer and will be protected under the steel canopy.

While all of this construction continues, I’ve been neglecting my blog, my writing, and my marketing. When I get inside at night and take my turn cooking and cleaning up, it’s a contest to see which of us falls to sleep in our chairs first.

Starting a story has never been a problem for me. Finishing wasn’t either until Shattered. Why this one, I have no idea. I’m hoping it’s not age-related.

I’ve always been passionate about writing. It’s like breathing without thought. I finished my books because it felt like the right thing to do. If I hadn’t finished them, I might have felt bad for a season, but eventually, I would have realized it didn’t matter, everything was as it should be. In other words, if you don’t write the book you promised you’d write, it won’t be the end of the world. The important thing is to be kind to yourself. Because when you’re kind to yourself life makes sense and so do your decisions.

 

My dear friend Marie Beswick Arthur’s novel Listening For Water was released yesterday. I’m mentioning this because Listening For Water is one of the best novels I have ever read. I loved the story, the message, and the way I felt at the end. I hope that’s enough of an enticement to get you to take a look. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Here’s the synopsis:

Listen for Water is a snappy, bittersweet coming-of-age novel that tells the story of roles reversed–a daughter, Dakota, charged with keeping her mother, Ray, and their lives right-side up. It’s no easy task for a teen who wants to be anywhere but with Ray who is hellbent on living as though she wasn’t somebody’s mother.

Each faces the challenge in unexpected ways. Ray hits her stride and ensures they do not need to adapt to a life without water. Dakota learns about her birth father and the roots of her strange recurring dream. As they write their own unique wilderness survival guide, they discover surprising things about themselves, their past, and their mother-daughter relationship.

In the end, Ray is gifted with the opportunity for a do-over. And Dakota? Can she ever forgive and forget that her mother was an addict?

Only time will tell.

The post IWSG – June 2022 – When The Going Gets Tough appeared first on Joylene Nowell Butler.

Board of Education Upset By Number System

by Hank Quense

 

FNN’s Educational reporter Jason Pedagogy attended a meeting of the Alabama Board of Education and filed this report.

The main speaker at the meeting was a middle school math teacher who gave a talk on the origins of our number system.  When the Board realized our numbers have Arabic roots they reacted with outrage.

After a lengthy discussion period, the Board announced the formation of a new project.  It has authorized a project staffed by astrologers, numerologists, phrenologists and Bible experts to develop an American, Christian set of numbers to replace our current Arabic numbers.  They hope to have the new numbers in textbooks by the start of the school year in September 2022

In a follow-up announcement a few days later, a Board spokesperson said,  “It is perhaps symbolic of our inept Federal Government that they have ignored this insult to our Christian nation.  Their refusal to respond to our righteous demands has forced our hand.  While the Board accepts the responsibility to develop an American number system, we anticipate that the project will be attacked by the liberal wimps in and out of government.  We will disregard their unjustified criticism and do our Christian, American duty.  This is a crash project.  The sooner we finish it, the sooner our children will stop being exposed to the pernicious, foreign and ungodly influence of our current numbers.

“Our Board is extremely disappointed that none of our NASA scientists or engineers agreed to join the project.  In a further demonstration of partisan rancor, our project has been denounced by the American Academy of Science.  The Alabama Board of Education responds by decrying this liberal rathole of reactionary and dubious science.”

The Spokesperson went on to state that the Boards of Education in Texas and Mississippi issued statements of support for the Alabama number project.

When asked by our reporter about the Board’s project, a spokesperson for the American  Academy of Science replied, “This is absurd.  It smacks of the Dark Ages.”

Our reporter, Jason Pedagogy, will update this story as new information is released by the Board.

———————

Reporter bio: Jason Pedagog, was home-schooled by his illiterate mother and considers himself an expert on all things educational.

 

For vacations, Hank and Pat usually visit distant parts of the galaxy. Occasionally, they also time-travel.

Besides writing novels, Hank lectures on fiction writing, publishing and book marketing. He is most proud of his talk showing grammar school kids how to create a short story. He used these lectures to create an advanced ebook with embedded videos to coach the students on how to create characters, plots and settings. The target audience is 4th to 7th graders. The book’s title is Fiction Writing Workshop for Kids.

Blogs & Books

Hank’s Amazon Page Creating a Story

How to Self-publish and Market a Book

Writers & Authors Resource Center 

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IWSG – April 2022 – Supporting Independent Publishers

IWSG was created by Ninja Captain Alex J Cavanaugh — because Alex understands we need a safe place to congregate, insecurity is part of our creative nature, and together we’re stronger.

On the first Wednesday of each month, you can write on any subject related to your writing journey or adopt the option of answering the month’s question. Either way, you’re in safe territory.

If this sounds like a good place to be, sign up here.

IWSG’s Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and the hashtag is #IWSG.

April 6 question – Have any of your books been made into audiobooks? If so, what is the main challenge in producing an audiobook?* * * *Alex’s co-hosts for the April 6 posting of the IWSG are Jemima Pett, Patricia Josephine, Louise – Fundy Blue, Kim Lajevardi, and moi.Be sure to visit the
Insecure Writer’s Support Group Website!

I know nothing about producing an audiobook, so I’ll skip this month’s question and leave it to Spunky Diane Wolfe, who knows a thing or two about publishing. Actually more likely two-hundred-thing or two.

Instead, I would like to share how much I appreciate my publishers. So much so that I am sharpening my marketing skills. I know–you’d think after 14 years I’d be an expert. That’s never going to happen because things are constantly changing. Luckily, I’m stubborn, so there’s hope.

Not sure if I mentioned this before (probably) but one of my publishers (Dead Witness) closed its doors back in June. I immediately self-published my first novel with KDP, and just this week, created the hard copy version. I wish I could say it was easy. No. I don’t really like the new cover. It’s green with a shot of a tree from the ground looking upward. And it’s only available at Amazon.com, not Amazon.ca. On Amazon.ca it says it’s out of stock. What does this mean? I cannot order a copy of my own novel. Yes, I have some glitches to work out.

I had to edit Dead Witness’s copyrighted page on the pdf file from First Edition to Third because I have a new cover and I don’t want readers to think it’s a new book and buy a copy if they’ve already read it. I have a new cover because I finally gave up trying to upload my old one, which didn’t fit and wasn’t ever going to fit. Okay, truth: I couldn’t make it fit.

Publishers understand this stuff; I had to learn the hard way. What a nightmare. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you can mess up the formatting. Which I did. And then spent an entire day fixing it. If you run into this problem, save yourself some hassle, download Adobe and use the edit feature for PDF files. You can go in and change as little as one word.

Everything I do via marketing and self-publishing reflects upon my other novels. If the third edition of Dead Witness does well, if I market Kiss of the Assassin effectively, both should increase the sales of Maski: Broken But Not Dead and Matowak: Woman Who Cries, which in turn, helps my publisher.

I created an ad on Bookbub for Kiss of the Assassin, which only took a week of watching Youtube; followed by two false starts that ended up in archives. Don’t get me started on Amazon–other than to say: I haven’t given up. My hope is to eventually create ads for all my novels.

For what it’s worth: BookBub is far more user-friendly than Amazon.

The bad part about producing anything as intricate as an ad campaign is that most days doing all this marketing hurts my brain. And then there are the doubts. Am I wasting money? Time? Or simply fooling myself? Am I too old for this?

The good part is that I have lots of kind friends who are quick to encourage me. Just recently one friend reminded me that however horrible marketing is, it could be worse. I could be a songwriter promoting my work online while sitting in front of my computer in my pyjamas with my white hair, turkey-neck, and scratchy computer audio.

Yes, honest friends are hard to come by; and yes, I write, do interviews, zooms and attend virtual guest posts in my PJs.

Doesn’t everyone?

 

With the release of Kiss of the Assassin, I’m falling back on proven methods, participating in podcasts, AND  offering autographed copies through the mail.

I’m an active member of BookBub, Draft-2-Digital, Amazon Author, FBCW (Federation of BC Writers), Facebook, Goodreads, BookSprout, and Friends of the Libary.

Once I return to Canada, there will be book readings, signings, and local newspaper and radio interviews.

I can state without prejudice that marketing is tough; it’s certainly not part of my comfort zone, but it needs to be done. If not for ourselves then for the independent publishers who take a chance on our work.

 

 

I’m assuming you’re all aware that our Ninja Captain has a new release. I read CassaDark last year and I’m here to say, Alex, once again, delivers. It’s been quite a while and yet I remember the story well. Bassan’s an admirable character. He’s young, a bit gullible, but honourable and brave and intelligent. And he loves his parents. Especially his mum. He has his father’s integrity. I was impressed by this young man and need to go back and read Alex’s novels in sequence. Congratulations, Alex. You are a phenomenal storyteller.

CassaDark
By Alex J. Cavanaugh

His world is unraveling…

Bassan’s father is stepping down from command. His best friend almost dies when Bassan freezes. Now, he’s being sent across the galaxy to speak at an important conference. Despite saving the eleven races years ago, he’s paralyzed by fear and doubt. Could things get any worse?

Once there, new acquaintance Zendar convinces Bassan to visit his planet for a humanitarian mission. Bassan’s special connection to ancient technology is the key to saving Zendar’s people. One problem though—it’s a prisoner planet.

On Ugar, he discovers things aren’t so straightforward. As each secret reveals itself, the situation grows more desperate. If he can’t find the right answers, he might die along with Zendar’s people. Can Bassan summon the courage to be a hero again?

Science fiction – Adventure / Space Opera / Space Exploration
Print ISBN 9781939844842 $16.95

eBook ISBN 9781939844859 $4.99

“Cavanaugh returns to the world of his Cassa Series…for a fourth inventive space opera.” – Publisher’s Weekly

Alex J. Cavanaugh works in web design and graphics. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is known as Ninja Captain Alex and is founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group.
http://alexjcavanaugh.com

https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/

Links:
iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/book/x/id1574189874
Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0982FL3SH
Barnes & Noble – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940164947033
Kobo – https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/Search?Query=9781939844859
Scribed – https://www.scribd.com/search?query=9781939844859&language=0
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58461762-cassadark
www.dancinglemurpress.com

 

 

 

–namaste

joylene

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New Release: Kiss of the Assassin, March 23, 2022

I’m thrilled to announce the release of my 4th novel Kiss of the Assassin. Today I’m visiting with Alicia Dean, and if you stop by and leave a comment, you’ll have a chance of winning an ebook copy of KOTA.

Meanwhile, I finally visited the market in La Cruz last Sunday. It has a beautiful array of products from some of the most talented artists in the Bucerias area. I love just wandering among the white tents. And no, sadly, that isn’t our yacht moored along the wharf in the bottom pic. The teeny-weeny boat isn’t ours either.

 

 

 

Here’s my tour through to April. There will be a giveaway at most sites:

TOUR CALENDAR
Monday, March 28 – Hank Quense’s Blog – Review
Elizabeth Spann Craig – Guest Post
Writing, Reading, and the Pursuit of Dreams – Excerpt
Tuesday, March 29 – Just Jemi – Guest Post
Writing in the Crosshairs – Review
Wednesday, March 30 – Nesie’s Place – Excerpt
Thursday, March 31 – Pat Garcia – Review
Friday, April 1 –
Monday, April 5 – Spunk on a Stick – Feature
Alex J. Cavanaugh – Feature

I recently did an interview with my fellow author and friend Hank Quense. Hank is a natural.

 

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