Robin McElveen's Blog, page 5

Author Update: January 3, 2024 - New Year Fits & Starts

 Welcome to the scenic route! A new year means new opportunities. I'm excited to start this one with my readers and eagerly welcome more to my blog. I hope you're excited about 2024, too! 

I'm writing today's post to apologize for the fits and starts right at the beginning. I'm working hard to get things lined up for upcoming blog posts and just haven't gotten it all figured out yet. 

I can tell you I'll continue to deliver three word prompts, stories & story snippets, Spartacus cameos, book reviews, and author life updates. So if you loved the past year's posts, I think you'll enjoy the upcoming ones, too.

This week, I decided to skip the posts and focus solely on blog planning. I'll also be prepping for a month of editing during February. You can expect the regular posts to pick back up within a week or two. I just don't want to overwhelm myself. 

Thanks for checking out the blog, for sticking with me as I keep pressing on, and for the support and encouragement you give me by being here. 

Pusheens Resolutions Cat GIFfrom Pusheens Resolutions GIFs
Happy New Year! Until next time,Turn the page...

Just Keep Writing: December 28, 2023 - Thursday Threads

 Welcome to the scenic route! We're coming closer to New Year's Eve. Do you have plans to ring in the new year with others? Or are you more of a stay-at-home kinda person? We were invited to join a big celebration with some new friends. I'm happy, but at the same time, nervous. Still, I expect we'll have a fun time. Anyway, let me get to the word prompt. Here we go!

Just Keep Writing: Thursday Threads

If this is your first time participating in this kind of writing exercise, you're in for a treat. If you've done this with me before, just keep scrolling for the prompt.

Rules:

You can use any/all of the words and/or the photo in the prompt below to create a unique written work. Fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose, even lyrics are acceptable.  Please keep the material you write clean (i.e. nothing R-rated or worse) if you wish to share the link to your work here, as well as if you link back to my site. I strive to keep my site free of such things. My readers know and expect this. I respect your right to write whatever you feel you need to write. And you're free to use my prompts. But if your material is graphic, I'd rather not view it, and most of my readers will not wish to. Have fun! This type of exercise is perfect for growing in the writing craft, or for helping through a rough patch in your current WIP. If you're looking to push your author limits and you normally write in nonfiction prose, try a whimsical collection of lyrics. If you normally write poems about real life events, try your hand at a fanfic. Give yourself some room to explore.

Don't forget to leave a link to your creation (unless you're writing graphic material) so my readers and I can check out your work. I'd appreciate a link back to this post to help me reach more readers, but it's not required. 

Oo! This list is interesting. I bet the stories/projects y'all come up with will be just as varied. Happy creating! 

I'm so happy you chose to spend a little of your time here today. Did you find the post useful? I hope so, and hope, too, that you'll visit again. Why not bring a few of your creative friends along? The more the merrier! I'm putting together a little something for tomorrow's post, but I suppose it'll still be pretty short. I'll still have the word prompt, for sure. 

Until next time,
Turn the page...

Book Notes: December 27, 2023 - Clean Contemporary Romance

 Welcome to the scenic route! I've got a couple of cowboy stories to share with you today. One of them is written by one of the authors in my top 20. I also have that word prompt ready, just as I promised. Ready? Let's go!

Book Review: Must Love Christmas by Kelly Hunter Must Love Christmas by Kelly Hunter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Solid 4-Star

For me, this book was mostly good. I liked the characters and the ending. The setting was fun, too. I try not to choose books containing sex scenes and cussing, but I think this one was either free or discounted for a time. Still, neither of those were excessive. I was able to skip the sex scene without ruining the story.
If none of what bothered me bothers you, and you enjoy contemporary cowboy romance, then you might enjoy this book.

View all my reviews
Book Review: Her Mistletoe Cowboy (Steeple Ridge Romance #3) by Liz Isaacson
Her Mistletoe Cowboy by Liz Isaacson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Solid, Sweet Romance

If you're looking for something sweet, clean, and easy to read, that'll probably leave you smiling at the end, this is it. The only reason I took off a star is because it's just not cool when a character says "come with." I just can't stand that phrase. At all. Also, these MCs come across as a little bit weak and a little bit immature. They do grow, which was great to read about. Overall, it's a good story. Most of my issues were personal preference related. I still recommend this book. Liz Isaacson is one of my favorite authors when it comes to contemporary romance.

View all my reviews
(Just a little note, you may notice the tag 'clean read' in the list of tags. If one of the books I share is a clean read and one isn't, then I still tag it clean read. I'm pretty good about letting people know in the book review if I found subject matter which some find objectionable. I just wanted to make that clear, since I don't think I have before.)

Just Keep Writing: Wednesday Whimsy

If this is your first time participating in this kind of writing exercise, you're in for a treat. If you've done this with me before, just keep scrolling for the prompt.

Rules:

You can use any/all of the words and/or the photo in the prompt below to create a unique written work. Fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose, even lyrics are acceptable.  Please keep the material you write clean (i.e. nothing R-rated or worse) if you wish to share the link to your work here, as well as if you link back to my site. I strive to keep my site free of such things. My readers know and expect this. I respect your right to write whatever you feel you need to write. And you're free to use my prompts. But if your material is graphic, I'd rather not view it, and most of my readers will not wish to. Have fun! This type of exercise is perfect for growing in the writing craft, or for helping through a rough patch in your current WIP. If you're looking to push your author limits and you normally write in nonfiction prose, try a whimsical collection of lyrics. If you normally write poems about real life events, try your hand at a fanfic. Give yourself some room to explore.

Don't forget to leave a link to your creation (unless you're writing graphic material) so my readers and I can check out your work. I'd appreciate a link back to this post to help me reach more readers, but it's not required. 

This could be a really fun list. I've already got a genre and setting in mind. What do you think?

I'm so glad you chose to visit the blog today. What did you think of the post? Did you find a book to read? Have you read one of them already? Maybe you were more interested in the word prompt. Was it helpful? Let me know in the comments. I hope you'll visit again tomorrow. The word prompt will be waiting for you!

Until next time,
Turn the page...

Just Keep Writing: December 26, 2023 - Tuesday Tracts

 Welcome to the scenic route! How was your Christmas day? I hope it was wonderful and full of the love of family and friends. The word prompt is ready. Are you? Let's go!

Just Keep Writing: Tuesday Tracts

If this is your first time participating in this kind of writing exercise, you're in for a treat. If you've done this with me before, just keep scrolling for the prompt.

Rules:

You can use any/all of the words and/or the photo in the prompt below to create a unique written work. Fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose, even lyrics are acceptable.  Please keep the material you write clean (i.e. nothing R-rated or worse) if you wish to share the link to your work here, as well as if you link back to my site. I strive to keep my site free of such things. My readers know and expect this. I respect your right to write whatever you feel you need to write. And you're free to use my prompts. But if your material is graphic, I'd rather not view it, and most of my readers will not wish to. Have fun! This type of exercise is perfect for growing in the writing craft, or for helping through a rough patch in your current WIP. If you're looking to push your author limits and you normally write in nonfiction prose, try a whimsical collection of lyrics. If you normally write poems about real life events, try your hand at a fanfic. Give yourself some room to explore.

Don't forget to leave a link to your creation (unless you're writing graphic material) so my readers and I can check out your work. I'd appreciate a link back to this post to help me reach more readers, but it's not required. 

This could be a fun challenge. What do you think? 

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you enjoyed the post and found it helpful. If so, please come by again tomorrow for another one. I'll have a couple of book reviews to share with you, too. 

Until next time,
Turn the page...

Just Keep Writing: December 25, 2023 - Christmas Monday Musings

 Merry Christmas! And welcome to the scenic route. I hope you're having a wonderful holiday season. Mine started out a little rough, but God is good! I know things are in His most capable hands and His plan is good, even if I don't understand how or why. Are y'all ready to create something awesome? The word prompt is below. What are you waiting for?

Just Keep Writing: Monday Musings

If this is your first time participating in this kind of writing exercise, you're in for a treat. If you've done this with me before, just keep scrolling for the prompt.

Rules:

You can use any/all of the words and/or the photo in the prompt below to create a unique written work. Fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose, even lyrics are acceptable.  Please keep the material you write clean (i.e. nothing R-rated or worse) if you wish to share the link to your work here, as well as if you link back to my site. I strive to keep my site free of such things. My readers know and expect this. I respect your right to write whatever you feel you need to write. And you're free to use my prompts. But if your material is graphic, I'd rather not view it, and most of my readers will not wish to. Have fun! This type of exercise is perfect for growing in the writing craft, or for helping through a rough patch in your current WIP. If you're looking to push your author limits and you normally write in nonfiction prose, try a whimsical collection of lyrics. If you normally write poems about real life events, try your hand at a fanfic. Give yourself some room to explore.

Don't forget to leave a link to your creation (unless you're writing graphic material) so my readers and I can check out your work. I'd appreciate a link back to this post to help me reach more readers, but it's not required. 

Have fun creating, y'all! And I pray you have an enjoyable holiday.

Thanks so much for coming by the blog today. I hope you found your visit helpful. I won't keep you long so you can get back to the festivities. 

Until next time,
Turn the page...

But before I go, Spartacus has a little message for y'all...

Just Keep Writing: December 22, 2023 - Friday Fascicles

 Welcome to the scenic route! If this isn't your first visit, you might remember my post about the next couple of Fridays being strictly word prompts. If you haven't been here before, just know that I usually give a little peek into what I'm working on and how my life has been over the past week. Every now and then, I'll share stories or snippets of stories. But today, it's just a word prompt. Y'all ready to create?

Just Keep Writing: Friday Fascicles

If this is your first time participating in this kind of writing exercise, you're in for a treat. If you've done this with me before, just keep scrolling for the prompt.

Rules:

You can use any/all of the words and/or the photo in the prompt below to create a unique written work. Fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose, even lyrics are acceptable.  Please keep the material you write clean (i.e. nothing R-rated or worse) if you wish to share the link to your work here, as well as if you link back to my site. I strive to keep my site free of such things. My readers know and expect this. I respect your right to write whatever you feel you need to write. And you're free to use my prompts. But if your material is graphic, I'd rather not view it, and most of my readers will not wish to. Have fun! This type of exercise is perfect for growing in the writing craft, or for helping through a rough patch in your current WIP. If you're looking to push your author limits and you normally write in nonfiction prose, try a whimsical collection of lyrics. If you normally write poems about real life events, try your hand at a fanfic. Give yourself some room to explore.

Don't forget to leave a link to your creation (unless you're writing graphic material) so my readers and I can check out your work. I'd appreciate a link back to this post to help me reach more readers, but it's not required. 

Now, if you've been here before, you'll notice the word 'so' in the middle. I usually try to remove those when they show up. I mean...'so'? Consider this a little extra challenge. What kind of new way could you use the word? 

I hope you're having fun with the word prompts. If you're enjoying these posts, please drop a comment below and let me know. 

I know Monday is Christmas Day, and I hope you'll be busy with fun and games and whatever it is you do to celebrate with family and friends. Don't forget to say a little prayer and maybe do something nice for those who are alone during this holiday season. It's amazing how a small gesture can make a huge impact. 

If you're not busy on Christmas Day, and you're looking for something to do, come on back to the blog. I'll have a word prompt ready for you. 

Until next time,
Turn the page...

Also, Spartacus would like to tell you all to make sure your holiday is full of laughter and that you remember to breathe.

Just Keep Writing: December 21, 2023 - Thursday Threads

 Welcome to the scenic route! Are you ready to get creative? I hope so. I'm ready to get right to today's word prompt. Let's go!

Just Keep Writing: Thursday Threads

If this is your first time participating in this kind of writing exercise, you're in for a treat. If you've done this with me before, just keep scrolling for the prompt.

Rules:

You can use any/all of the words and/or the photo in the prompt below to create a unique written work. Fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose, even lyrics are acceptable.  Please keep the material you write clean (i.e. nothing R-rated or worse) if you wish to share the link to your work here, as well as if you link back to my site. I strive to keep my site free of such things. My readers know and expect this. I respect your right to write whatever you feel you need to write. And you're free to use my prompts. But if your material is graphic, I'd rather not view it, and most of my readers will not wish to. Have fun! This type of exercise is perfect for growing in the writing craft, or for helping through a rough patch in your current WIP. If you're looking to push your author limits and you normally write in nonfiction prose, try a whimsical collection of lyrics. If you normally write poems about real life events, try your hand at a fanfic. Give yourself some room to explore.

Don't forget to leave a link to your creation (unless you're writing graphic material) so my readers and I can check out your work. I'd appreciate a link back to this post to help me reach more readers, but it's not required. 

What do you think? Are ideas sparking? I hope so!

I'm glad you stopped by today! Tomorrow, I'll have another word prompt to share with you. Let's enjoy the creative process during this holiday season! 

Until next time,
Turn the page...

Book Notes: December 20, 2023 - Clean Christmas Romance

 Welcome to the scenic route! I hope you're ready to check out some book reviews and/or create something awesome with today's word prompt. I'm going to get right to it.

Book Review: The Cowboy's Christmas Reunion (Saddle Springs Romance #1) by Valerie Comer The Cowboy's Christmas Reunion by Valerie Comer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Interesting and Sweet

This story kept me turning pages. I just had to know how things would unfold. The MCs were a bit extreme in some ways, but I did find them to be relatable. The themes of compassion and forgiveness were nicely handled, too.
If you enjoy sweet, inspirational romance and cowboys, you'll probably enjoy this book.

View all my reviews Book Review: Always Kiss at Christmas (Fortune's Brides #7) by Regina Scott Always Kiss at Christmas by Regina Scott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An excellent Regency novella! I loved reading about these two characters and how their story began. The story is clean, the main characters believable and honorable, and the plot well-paced. I recommend it to those who enjoy clean Regency romance and are looking for a quick, satisfying read.

View all my reviews
Of these two authors, Regina Scott is my favorite. I did enjoy both books and the Fortune's Brides series has been fun as I continue to slowly work my way through it. I apologize for such short reviews. I usually review late at night and I'm usually falling asleep while I do so. It's not unusual to see typos in my reviews. If I spot them before posting, I try to correct them. In any case, I hope you'll be interested enough in one or both of these. 

Just Keep Writing: Wednesday Whimsy

If this is your first time participating in this kind of writing exercise, you're in for a treat. If you've done this with me before, just keep scrolling for the prompt.

Rules:

You can use any/all of the words and/or the photo in the prompt below to create a unique written work. Fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose, even lyrics are acceptable.  Please keep the material you write clean (i.e. nothing R-rated or worse) if you wish to share the link to your work here, as well as if you link back to my site. I strive to keep my site free of such things. My readers know and expect this. I respect your right to write whatever you feel you need to write. And you're free to use my prompts. But if your material is graphic, I'd rather not view it, and most of my readers will not wish to. Have fun! This type of exercise is perfect for growing in the writing craft, or for helping through a rough patch in your current WIP. If you're looking to push your author limits and you normally write in nonfiction prose, try a whimsical collection of lyrics. If you normally write poems about real life events, try your hand at a fanfic. Give yourself some room to explore.

Don't forget to leave a link to your creation (unless you're writing graphic material) so my readers and I can check out your work. I'd appreciate a link back to this post to help me reach more readers, but it's not required. 

Hmm...what do you think? Can you work with these? Have fun!

I'm so happy you stopped by today. Did you find a new book to read? Or maybe you've read these before. Won't you let me know in the comments? I hope the word prompt was helpful. Let me know your thoughts on that, too, if you like. Tomorrow, I'll have another word prompt ready to go. Please visit again!

Until next time,
Turn the page...

Just Keep Writing: December 19, 2023 - Tuesday Tracts

 Welcome to the scenic route! I'm glad you're here today. I've got a fun word prompt ready to share with you. Whether you write novels or poems, or even if you creative expertise is in a totally different realm, word prompts can offer some interesting inspiration. Let's check it out. 

Just Keep Writing: Tuesday Tracts

If this is your first time participating in this kind of writing exercise, you're in for a treat. If you've done this with me before, just keep scrolling for the prompt.

Rules:

You can use any/all of the words and/or the photo in the prompt below to create a unique written work. Fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose, even lyrics are acceptable.  Please keep the material you write clean (i.e. nothing R-rated or worse) if you wish to share the link to your work here, as well as if you link back to my site. I strive to keep my site free of such things. My readers know and expect this. I respect your right to write whatever you feel you need to write. And you're free to use my prompts. But if your material is graphic, I'd rather not view it, and most of my readers will not wish to. Have fun! This type of exercise is perfect for growing in the writing craft, or for helping through a rough patch in your current WIP. If you're looking to push your author limits and you normally write in nonfiction prose, try a whimsical collection of lyrics. If you normally write poems about real life events, try your hand at a fanfic. Give yourself some room to explore.

Don't forget to leave a link to your creation (unless you're writing graphic material) so my readers and I can check out your work. I'd appreciate a link back to this post to help me reach more readers, but it's not required. 

See what I mean? And interesting collection of random words can be the spark that lights the fire of creative genius. 

Thanks for stopping by today! My stroll on the scenic route was much more enjoyable with friends. Won't you visit again tomorrow? I'll have two book reviews to share, as well as a new word prompt. 

Until next time,
Turn the page...

Just Keep Writing: December 18, 2023 - Monday Musings

 Welcome to the scenic route! I'm amazed to have made it through most of another entire year relatively intact. So much has happened. While the  year seemed to drag for a good many months, looking back, it really did fly past. I'm going to keep the next two weeks of posts as simple as possible. I hope you'll keep visiting for word prompts and book reviews for the times when you're not at holiday parties or feasts. Let's go!

Just Keep Writing: Monday Musings

If this is your first time participating in this kind of writing exercise, you're in for a treat. If you've done this with me before, just keep scrolling for the prompt.

Rules:

You can use any/all of the words and/or the photo in the prompt below to create a unique written work. Fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose, even lyrics are acceptable.  Please keep the material you write clean (i.e. nothing R-rated or worse) if you wish to share the link to your work here, as well as if you link back to my site. I strive to keep my site free of such things. My readers know and expect this. I respect your right to write whatever you feel you need to write. And you're free to use my prompts. But if your material is graphic, I'd rather not view it, and most of my readers will not wish to. Have fun! This type of exercise is perfect for growing in the writing craft, or for helping through a rough patch in your current WIP. If you're looking to push your author limits and you normally write in nonfiction prose, try a whimsical collection of lyrics. If you normally write poems about real life events, try your hand at a fanfic. Give yourself some room to explore.

Don't forget to leave a link to your creation (unless you're writing graphic material) so my readers and I can check out your work. I'd appreciate a link back to this post to help me reach more readers, but it's not required. 

What do you think? Are story ideas starting to flow? 

Please visit again tomorrow! Your presence is an encouragement to me. I hope a few of your creative friends will join you, too. The more the merrier, after all. 

Until next time,
Turn the page...