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The Blood Dealer Podcast

I think I have a problem. While in the heat of NaNoWriMo, I also made a podcast series called, “The Blood Dealer: Chronicles of Dark Magic.”

I know. No chill here.

It’s just how I roll. I respond to your need for creepy podcasts long after Halloween is over.

It’s cool. I got you.

This is what happens when I have extra, finished material that doesn’t seem to have a home.

With The Blood Dealer, I wrote it over a year ago as a fun exercise in creating short stories. As time passed, I knew it deserved special attention. So here I am: with a new podcast and way to share my stories.

Here’s a sneak peek into the nitty-gritty of The Blood Dealer:

“Become lost in the dark of the woods as we meet The Blood Dealer, a magical being who doesn’t need to play by the rules. Powerful, clever, and a good bit snarky, this being deals out favor to those who ask. But always at a price.“

I’m still fiddling around with sound quality and music, but I very much hope you enjoy this series. I know it’s been fun to explore the world of storytelling via radio.

You may not know this, but my father was a part-time radio DJ when I was a kid in Savannah, GA. I even got to record some of the commercials! I love doing live readings, and this is a way to help further cultivate that skill. So this is a fun return to those snippets of experience from long ago.

Be sure to listen to the trailer for more info on this upcoming series starting Nov. 5th (remember, remember)! The Blood Dealer: Chronicles of Dark Magic is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Anchor, Spotify, Breaker, Overcast, PocketCasts, and RadioPublic.

In Courage & Care,

Samantha

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The NanoWriMo 2019 Writing Challenge

Oh friends, what have I done? I agreed to do the NanoWriMo 2019 Writing Challenge.

Questioning my decisions be like…

Oh dear.

What’s NanoWriMo, you ask? Let me explain. In their own words, it is “a daunting but straightforward challenge: to write 50,000 words of a novel during the thirty days of November.”

Ok, I’ve written two micronovels in less time. It’s cool, it’s cool. I’m not freaking out.

At this point, you might be asking why I actually signed up for this. Fair question. And I promise to answer it.

You see, I have this book…

Mhm. Ladies and Gents and all who care, I have a novel I’ve been working on. For two years. That is barely written. *Ouch. It hurts to admit that.*

But hear me out. It’s got a prologue and first chapter. And from preliminary beta readers, it shows a lot of promise.

This one is something different, special even…

This book means a lot to me. It’s my return to my literary roots, more full-fledged fantasy. Except with a twist. Because it’s also beautifully Southern Gothic. In this story, I get to blend my adult sophistication with my perpetual love for magic and the supernatural.

But I’ve been a bum and let this beautiful story sit. Worked on all other kinds of things, but this one had to wait. I could make great excuses for why it hasn’t happened. Nothing would really cover it, though.

So I joined the NanoWriMo 2019 Writing Challenge to hold me accountable.

And I’m writing this blog so you can hold me accountable, too. Because I need the extra encouragement. I’ve obviously done a good bit of writing this year. You know, three books and a doctorate. But hey- cakewalk, right? This is something worth pursuing, though.

What’s more is that it draws upon some themes I’ve wanted to explore in my creative writing. Things I’ve looked at professionally and not as much on a creative level. This will change that. Wish me luck on Nov. 1!

In Courage & Care,

Samantha

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Four White Horses & An Unexpected Surprise

It took a while for me to see it. But the other day, it left me scratching my head. Right now, the only horses I regularly am in contact with are four white horses. That’s an unexpected surprise.

Duchess, the Quirky Girl

I’ll tell you why.

It’s really the small things that can be so interesting.

I used to write a lot about Murphy’s Law. Or, that’s at least how I’d describe it. But what I was actually talking about was surprises. LOTS of them.

From chance encounters to too-strange-to-be-made-up incidents, I’ve seen my fair share of random stuff. I do believe in chance, but I also believe in small signs that God leaves to speak to us.

When I stopped riding after my horse’s near death experience and a fast financial downturn, I gave up on the idea that I’d get to be in regular contact with horses again. Albeit with a broken heart and loads of tears, but I did release that hope.

Snowball, Mr. Grumpy Pants

Until I ended up helping care for two elderly, white horses. Within a year and a half, I would have the opportunity to ride two more white horses.

Want to know the irony? My last horse was gray, yes. But he had a white face. A perfect, white face. Well, that’s an unexpected surprise.

In life, you need to be pretty open to an unexpected surprise at any time.



Pie, Who’s as Sweet as Her Name

If you seek too much control, you’ll be miserable. And what’s ahead may not be as bad as you think or feel. I’m not in the dreamscape where I have a farm full of horses like I’d wanted in my late teens (and still do, in my heart). But this is pretty grand for where I’m at in life.

Small opportunities to speak to my heart. That’s a nice gig. I’ll take it.

In writing, if you try to control the story too much, you’ll suffocate the surprise of creativity.

It’s a weird experience, but stories really do write themselves. If you cultivate a series of key events in your story, it’ll surprise you just how easily words and concepts will fill themselves in as you write.

OJ, the Goodest of Boys

As I wrote in the post Writing Tips for Teen Writers, discipline is the first step in finishing a story. You need to commit to writing the thing. However, being too rigid will block out other ideas from slipping into the story’s narrative.

And here’s the thing of it: if you don’t like it, you can always change it.

Nothing’s written in stone until it’s published. Don’t stress out about the process of getting things done. Sometimes, it just falls together. So, let it. Let that stuff fall into place. If you’ve done the prepwork, thinking, and outlining, then lean into trusting your own intuition.

Some surprises you can kind of see coming. Others hit you out of nowhere. Don’t be afraid of them. Let the unexpected surprise you. See it all as an opportunity.

What surprises have come your way recently? Share with us what it is and how you’re handling it in the comments below!

In Courage & Care,

Samantha

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A Life of Collecting Words

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been collecting words all of my life.

In each purse, a small red notebook would sit awaiting the next quote to be found. Book after book would be combed to find phrases. Some romantic, others wise, still more witty or insightful. But they were always meaningful. It’s a habit I should start up again.

Those notebooks represent more than pretty words. They represent stages of my life, as well as permanent parts of my character. And how much I love words and their meaning.

You see, I seek out words because of love.

The written word should be compelling. My attachment to language and literature stem from a love of beauty and truth. And freedom. Cue the Moulin Rouge soundtrack and bohemian attitudes, but stay with me. There’s a point to all this.

Wrapping my life in words has helped me in so many ways. Even this morning, I whipped out a Thomas Carlyle quote in conversation: “The greatest of faults is to be conscious of none.” I memorised that at 13. Those words remind me to be humble and aware of my faults. Religious faithful encourage children and each other to inscribe holy words to memory. I know learning scripture helps me make better decisions because I am reminded of truth.

As humans, words can help orient us toward good.

In my own writing, I try to tell more than just an interesting story. I want to communicate ideas for you to consider. Not necessarily agree with, just something to think about. We are freer to be who we are when we’ve waded through the swamps of difficult ideas. And, yes, I want to add some beauty in all situations, too.

By collecting words and stringing them together into story tapestries, I am sending out love. As love compels me to collect quotes, it also pulls me to pouring out that love into writing. Friend, I write to reach your heart. Wherever that might be. Because you deserve it.

Are any of you word collectors, too? Share one of your favorite quotes in the comments. Would love to hear from you!

In Courage & Care,

Samantha

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Word of Hope

This is a far more personal post than others. But I feel bound to share these thoughts, a word of hope, all the same. It was in the last line of a prayer at this morning’s funeral. “Because I live, so shall you live.” Words drawn from the Bible passage John 11:17-44.

We as a church congregation laid to rest a woman who left this earth early. Another life claimed by breast cancer. As I sang with our choir, I could feel a great weight on my chest. Her grieving husband wept before us, holding his small sons tightly. But then the thought came, “Sing, because we’re singing to tell her story.” That carried me through as tears fell from my own eyes.

The song she requested, and that we recorded before she died, is called “Inscription of Hope.” It is perfect and heartbreaking all at once: to sing of hope while so many were crying. But it was, and is, a word of hope.

The lyrics incorporate a famous poem written into a wall by a prisoner in a concentration camp. It simply is this:

“I believe in the sun, even when it is not shining.



I believe in love, even though I don’t feel it.



I believe in God, even when he is silent.”

You may be wondering what all this sadness has to do with writing or hope. I’ll tell you.

No ending is ever really the end.

As a Christian, I believe in eternal life. That God calls to my soul that will one day dwell with Him in a place higher freer than I could ever dream. And aside from embodying an immortal soul, I also live inside the legacy of others. The closing words of the prayer echoed in my mind, reminding me of one of my purposes as a writer and community member. Because I live, so shall they. Through my words and remembrance, they carry on in our mortal realm.

Another soul’s immortality is not in my hands. But their memory is. When I share a memory or recall something about a person, their story continues. It keeps going and burrows into the hearts of others. We touch lives long after our temporal bodies fade.

We as writers are gifted with a vital task: to keep telling stories.

Even when you complete a book, short story, poem, etc., that is not the end. It moves forward through sharing it. Through other talking about your words over cups of coffee or wine.

You honor life with your words when they’re invested in sharing someone’s story. Even in fiction, we have the opportunity to communicate hope when things gets dark. Whether you tell the story of someone who’s gone, or you share a tale of hope and overcoming, you share in immortality.

We are living stories.

Our bodies may not live forever, but our souls can. Our words can. So if you find yourself grieving, tell a story. Let someone else share in those moments of love. Keep their memory alive. Share the hope you have.

We’re afire love.

In Courage & Care,

Samantha

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When We Can’t Focus

When was the last time you looked at the stars? Were you able to focus on that moment?

Really. Take yourself back to that moment in your mind. What did you feel? Did that moment stay with you once it was done?

This weekend, I was able to steal away to the mountains and go camping with husband and dog in tow. No phone service, no noise. Just us and the stillness of the outdoors.

It’s easy to forget just how brilliant the heavens above are to see. I gazed at the stars without garish street lamp lights. In fact, I saw them without light at all. Just them- pure, unadulterated pearls strung across the night sky. Even the color of nightfall was deeper, an ink for imaginative minds.

It’s remarkable to be able to see without obstruction.

I often notice how my frustration affects my writing. Like a distorted camera lens, my thoughts become warped. I can’t quite focus. What I write is never quite right in my mind. The internal compass of my mind starts to lose course.

And when these moments arise, I take a break. Unplug. Set aside the work and reset by either switching projects or just pause and engage in some other, more relaxing activity. Our camping trip helped both my husband and me release these tensions.

When we lose clarity, our literary eyes get blurry.

Overwhelm and frustration are common parts of our lives. Only they should never be our guides, merely opportunities to rediscover ourselves and think in new ways. When I say, “literary eyes,” what I’m talking about is the way we look at the writing process itself. We shouldn’t stay in the “can’t focus” state of mind.

Before you get lost in the fancy footwork of the final stages of a draft, be sure to practice a reset routine that works for you. Does a dance party get your creative flow back in line? Then it’s the right reset for you. Imitating bird calls help you remember why you do what you do? Go for it.

What’s your reset strategy? Let’s see who has the most creative way of fixing their literary gaze.

In Courage & Care,

Samantha

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Writing Tips for Teen Writers

Are you a teen writer? Or do you know one?

Picture this:

Isle of Wight County Legacy of Writers Celebration, 2019

A young teen something sits at one of those old, monstrous desktops. Her blonde, curly hair bounces ever so slightly as she types on the keyboard. She’s been sitting there for at least an hour and a half.

Sound familiar?

I mentioned in an earlier blog about the shock my parents got when they discovered my knack for writing. And how that eventually produced some respect for my endeavors.

But what about now? How do I feel about the process now that I’m firmly outside those years?

These are questions I recently asked myself when I got the request to speak at an annual celebration of the 50+ authors in Isle of Wight County, VA. After chewing on the thought, I presented on what I know well: how to support teen authors.

Along these lines, I’ll share with you all the core of my talk. You just gotta remember the core principles of writing.

D.L.C.L

D= Discipline. You will never accomplish any sort of publication if you don’t commit to the cause.

L= Learn. Finding your literary voice can only happen when you are learning about why language matters.

C= Confidence. You must believe in your work enough to be courageous and let others see it.

L= Listen. For your work to be effective, it must reflect life and make the reader believe in it. So listen in to what’s around you: conversations, thoughts, ideas, the way people use words.

It’s really important to make good thought habits. Not just to get the writing done, but to do it with the right mindset for success. And while there’s a lot of advice out there about the hyper-specific how-to’s, I want to give teen writers (and you) something they might not immediately think about.

What are your rules for writing? How have you mentored younger writers? Or how have you found support as a teen writer? Let me know in the comments below!

In Courage & Care,

Samantha

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Silence and Speaking

Ever struggle to say something?

You get that lump in your throat, and words fall out like a turned over toy box. Or maybe not at all. Silence may be your choice.

Whether you let it all burst out or stay frozen, the big thing that drives us when we’re upset is fear. We speak too much or stay silent.

And that can do a lot.

Fear can be a big driver in what we do.

Not because it’s a good thing, but it is powerful. We are afraid of rejection. Of being wrong. Maybe not being forgiven.

For many years, I chose silence. I was so afraid of speaking up that I just didn’t. It’s not an easy thing to admit, but it is real and true all the same. Writing and creating stories were the masks I wore to express the things going on in my head. Ideas, hopes, fears, curiosities.

If you’ve been wondering what I’m all about, it really is this:

I use to stories to communicate harder truths in ways we can better understand.

People often perceive silence in a negative way. And really, up to this point, I’ve described as something that held me back. But I want to also highlight the useful side of quiet.

It provides space for people to navigate fear and gather courage to speak. It lets words settle from their dusty chaos and sink into a person’s mind.

Silence is only our enemy when we use it to mask our intentions.

Truly, silence is a misunderstood friend in communication.

And it’s hard to understand things sometimes when you want to hide in the folds of silence. It’s hard to come into the light and be vulnerable enough to speak your truth.

Sometimes, a little word magic is all it takes to learn life’s secrets. If you’ve ever heard me perform poetry, I use pauses very intentionally. My stories and poems leave space for you to consider what I’ve said.

When you think of silence, think of it as space. Room to grow, to be present, to learn. Reimagine your fear as an opportunity, a new tool to use.

Most often, our fears are simply warped visions of opportunities. So don’t be afraid. Explore your fear of silence.

In Courage & Care,

Samantha

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3 Tips to Start Your Passion Project

Dreams are the result of hard work.

After my Ph.D. defense!

It’s really that simple. Talent is helpful, luck is fortunate, but hard work is the key. So many people like to talk about their “secret ingredient” for a passion project.

Nah, fam. It’s just hard work in my book.

I wanna get real with you about getting where you want to go with your passion project. Don’t get lost in the huge number of strategies. You’ll figure out what works best for you. But this is important. So I’m going to give you some tips to work with.

Every book begins by making the commitment to start it.

You can learn to be talented, but deciding to take that journey is the key. Each draft is finished through the time put into editing. The best of lines happen after you’ve thrown out another 40 before. And let me say this loud and clear:

Your hard work needs a reason.

Don’t do it for money. Don’t do it for someone else’s approval. Do it because it’s your passion project. Even my Ph.D. is a passion project, one that I’ve been chasing since I was 8 years old.

What drives your dream? Get down in the weeds of your heart and be honest. And when you have that answer, proceed ahead.

Dreams involve some loss, too.

You dream will not happen if you don’t make the choice to do the hard work. And that means some sacrifices, too. But I promise you, it’s worth it.

Your fear will make you doubt. I’m here to tell you that you’ll succeed even if it becomes something different. Be open to where the journey takes you.

I believe in your work. I believe in you. So go out there get it done!

In Courage & Care,

Samantha

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2 Writing Tips for a Busy Life

Edmund understands a busy life.

I get it.

Life is super chaotic and it’s hard to sit down and commit to writing something.

And, it’s truthfully the biggest thing that stops people from pursuing the dream of writing and publishing. I know for a long time it was my excuse.

And when I say writing, this really can be applied to any passion project. Learning a new language; that rad DIY project you saw on Pinterest; composting; these are all things that take time but we’d love to get done.

There are a lot of people out there with a lot of tips about the mechanics of this. Today, I just want to give you two principles to remember when things get hard and seem unattainable.

So let’s dive in:

1. Find your cracks in the time wall.

Even as I write this, I could be doing final preparations for my upcoming dissertation defense. (Yes, friends, I’m going to be Dr. Samantha reeeeaaaalllll soon.) But in this year alone, I’ve written and published three books AND written and research a Ph.D. dissertation, all while maintaining my duties as a Research Fellow. Friends, that’s a busy life.

I wrote most of these over lunch breaks and random moments in the evening when nothing else was happening but some TV watching. Although my husband was supportive, this is the key element of finding the crack in my time wall: I claimed those moments for myself.

You cannot see your passion project come to life without taking time to do it. I also protect my weekends fiercely to make time for my husband, so I don’t write then unless he’s out and I have no other plans.

2. Embrace Your Untamed Side

PSA: this isn’t about advocating bad life choices. This tip is about letting go of perfection and JUST DOING IT. We are so groomed and domesticated to be the best 24/7. I don’t know about you, but as much as I want to embody Beyonce’s catchy phrase, “I woke up like this,” I was really more ratchet with the classic this morning. And that’s ok.

Writing is messy, and you should see what author drafts look like. Just bleeding red from edits. The key thing to remember though is that editing comes after the writing. Editing is not about criticism. It’s about polishing up your work to be the best it can be; and the best editors do their work with a great amount of love.

So embrace your untamed side and write that imperfect draft while listening to your choice of music, in your jammies, with dance breaks in between. Live your life and take joy in your work. You’ll break free from convention and feel better for it. As paradoxical as it sounds, don’t let the monotony of a busy life tame you.

For reference, I either listen to mindless music or instrumental. I break for dancing.

You can do it. It’s worth the effort. And don’t overcomplicate what needs to just be done. I believe in you.

What’s been your busy life hold up from pursuing the passion project? Let me know in the comments below!

In Courage & Care,

Samantha

P.s. If you love this blog, please share it. Sharing is caring, after all.

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