Leon Stevens's Blog, page 120
December 15, 2021
Weird Wednesday: Poem/Cartoon
I try to cycle as much as I can. Sometimes in winter it can be challenging, but it is exhilarating. Here is a poem the will be included in my newest collection: A Wonder of Words*
Winter Biking 101
You may choose to bike in winter’s throws
Reading rules set down in prose
If you wish to cycle in the winter’s curse
Listen to these tips presented in verse
To stay upright is what you aspire
Get yourself a studded tire
One in front is minimum
Add the back for more traction
If the trails are hard-packed snow
Then winter biking is a go
Fresh snow? I think an inch or two
Any more will feel like glue
Always pay attention to
What’s on the ground in front of you
When on the ground is a layer of ice
Rest assured the ride will not be nice
If you find yourself on an icy sheet
Go straight and keep weight upon your seat
Take the corners slow and wide
Or a slip may coincide
Never overcompensate
Turn too fast and meet your fate
Getting stuck should not be feared
As long as you stay in the lowest gear
The following tip may not make sense
You need to stay loose—but tense
If you don’t like the cold or have a fear of falling
Then winter biking is not your calling
But answering the adventure call
Can be fun for one and all
My newsletter goes out on Wednesdays:
Lines by Leon Newsletter: December 15
*Want an advance beta-copy? Let me know. (see bottom of page)
**Unrelated? Both involve transportation. OK. you got me there.
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Leon Stevens is a blogger, composer, artist, and an author of three books (so far): Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures, Journeys: Eight Original Pieces for Classical Guitar and The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories.
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December 14, 2021
Tuesday Tirade: Angry Cat was lonely.
“Thanks for ignoring me.”I haven’t posted a tirade for a few weeks. That means:
Nothing annoys me (not true)Everything in my life is running smoothly (also not true)People haven’t given me reason to roll my eyes (still not true)I’m too busy (never)I’m uninspired (I’m un-something)My buttons have been unpressed (have I finally realized that I am a sentient android?)I have better things to do (Better? Maybe other. . .).Amazon hasn’t pissed me off lately (actually, that’s surprisingly true). For a few weeks, they reset my free book to $0.99 for the seventh time, and for the seventh time I had to go through the whole CSR conversation all over again, explaining that my excerpts book is not the full volume, despite the somewhat similar name. It is now free and at #10 in Free Contemporary Poetry—just ahead of this guy:
-Leon
Leon Stevens is a blogger, composer, artist, and an author of three books (so far): Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures, Journeys: Eight Original Pieces for Classical Guitar and The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories.
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December 13, 2021
Music Monday: Songs You Might Want to Hear
There is a radio show on CBC here in Canada that occasionally does a feature called SYNTH: Songs You Need To Hear.
Now, I can’t say to someone, “You’ll like this song” (or book for that matter) because I can’t presume that others will share my taste in music (or books), so it is safer to say, “You might like this” and if they don’t like it, so be it.
Maybe you will find a new favorite.
How many songs are written about relationships? If you tally them up, the statistics will show that 76% of relationship songs are written by Adele*. I’m sure that love songs vs. break-up songs are about 50/50.
I decided to share two songs for no other reason than they were just to good to split up.
What stood out with Remi Wolf’s song was the opening line and the drums that reminded me of Phil Collin’s famous drum roll—albeit shorter.
We don’t want to run away from uncomfortable situations, but sometimes . . . well, it’s just easier, right?
I avoid the street that you live onYou’re a magnet pulling my feet and my head off
And I scramble my brain
Wasting away
Looking for ways that I can avoid you
To pull the weeds, suck the venom
I love Arlo Parks’ voice. In this song, we witness a break-up as Parks did.
Maybe if you took a breathYou would hear me when I talk to you
Threw her necklace in his face
Eyes so bright with disappointment
I saw something inside her break
Everybody knows the feeling
Suddenly he started screaming
Caroline
I swear to God, I tried
I swear to God, I tried
I hope you enjoyed today’s selections.
-Leon
*It’s true.
Leon Stevens is a blogger, composer, artist, and an author of three books (so far): Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures, Journeys: Eight Original Pieces for Classical Guitar and The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories.
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December 11, 2021
Weekend Wrap-up Dec 11: Winter – A Poem
It was v-v-very c-c-c-c-cold for a few d-d-d-days last week, then it became warmer, and now they (the weather people) are forecasting above freezing temperatures tomorrow. It made me think of this poem that I wrote and posted in February:
Winter
If you have never seen the hoarfrost cling
To wires, fences, posts, and trees
If you have never witnessed heavy snow
On every tree branch hanging low
If you have never watched the ice floes beat
Upon frigid shores too cold for feet
Ventured across a frozen lake, I’ve done
With sundogs adorning the low noon sun
I’ve trudged with snowshoes on wind-blown drifts
Even biked by snowy cliffs
Shoveled walks and pushed out cars
Watched breath become a frozen cloud
When others dare not go outside
I’ll fear not, I will not hide
I do often dream of warmer climes
But I sure would miss the wintertime
From my blog this week:Free Book Friday / In Conversation With Author Kyle Massa
Weird Wednesday: Flour, Water, Salt, Yeast – It turned out well, if you were wondering
Music Monday: Lullaby (an original) – Ten months in the making.
Weekend Wrap-up Dec 4: The Increment Excident – Little dogs have little poops. Thank goodness!
Leon Stevens is a blogger, composer, artist, and an author of three books (so far): Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures, Journeys: Eight Original Pieces for Classical Guitar and The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories.
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December 10, 2021
Free Book Friday / In Conversation With Author Kyle Massa
About the interviews:
When I published my first book, I looked for ways to reach new readers, and being a brand new author, participating in various book bloggers interviews was a good way to start. Some interviews were standard questions, while others had more individuality built into them.
I then did a twist on the author interview by interviewing myself (Leon Interviews Himself). I then thought it would be fun to get to know some of the authors I was cross-promoting with, and the Friday Conversations were born. Guess what? They are a lot of work. I look up the authors information, visit the website so I can craft a unique set of questions (OK, there are a few standard ones) to let my readership get to know these new authors. Worth the work? You bet. Here is today’s conversation:
Kyle A. Massa is a fantasy author living somewhere in upstate New York with his wife, their daughter, and three wild animals. His published works include two books and several short stories. When he’s not writing, he enjoys reading, running, and drinking coffee.
In Conversation With: Kyle A. Massa
Today I have the pleasure of sitting down with author Kyle A. Massa. Thanks for dropping by. Can I offer you anything to drink?
Thank you, Leon! Coffee with some sort of sugary flavoring, please.
I have sugar . . .
Perfect, thanks!
I’m glad I get to talk to another author of short stories. Is it a lost art or is there a resurgence in the popularity?
That’s a great question. With the rise of social media, bite-sized articles, and shortening attention spans, some authors predicted a corresponding surge in interest for short fiction. The theory clicks logically, since shorts require far less time investment than novels.
Yet we haven’t seen this play out. Novels remain the dominant medium of prose storytelling, while short stories are still, in the words of J.G. Ballard, the “loose change in the treasury of fiction.” It’s difficult to pinpoint why our reading habits contradict our technological conditioning. My personal theory: Readers are more patient than the average person; we celebrate lengthy tales rather than avoid them. Or, in other words, readers are weird.
All that said, the short story is certainly not a lost art. All sorts of influential contemporary writers focus almost exclusively on shorts, including Kelly Link and George Saunders. Plus, big publishing entities still recognize the importance of short fiction (see HMH Books adding a Best American Sci-Fi/Fantasy series in 2015, or Amazon’s recent launch of Kindle Vella, which breaks long-form stories into serialized shorts).
All in all, short fiction is like cult classic movies: Both have small but dedicated fanbases.
…Sorry, that was a long answer.
Long answer to a short story question. Although, who has loose change anymore, right? Did you know that we have the same website theme?
Ha, yes, I did notice that! I’m surprised there aren’t more of us.
It was second theme I have used. I think it is cleaner than some of the options.
In one of your stories, you base a character on Kilgore Trout. Is Vonnegut an author you are influenced by?
Definitely! I love how Vonnegut uses humor and absurdism to address our biggest problems, such as war, intolerance, and eventual apocalypse. Plus, you’ve got to give props to a guy who ends his greatest novel with the words “Poo-tee-weet?”
I totally agree.
When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?
In second grade. An author visited our classroom and led a creative writing workshop, challenging us to write a story based on a photo. Mine’s too embarrassing to mention, but the experience of creation never let me go.
You know I have to ask about it now…
Oh, alright. Something about a kid fleeing a bathroom because he found a portal to another dimension inside. Ya gotta start somewhere.
Not to far-fetched. Toilet training can be traumatic for some—it might feel like another dimension in there. What was the first book you published?
A weird little novel called Gerald Barkley Rocks. It’s part mystery, part contemporary fantasy, and part rock-and-roll elegy. Plus, it features lots of cats.
Were you an avid reader when you were younger?
Oddly, no. I was much more interested in movies and video games. I really didn’t become a reader until I attended Ithaca College, where I discovered writers like Salman Rushdie, David Sedaris, Joyce Carol Oates, and some guy named William Shakespeare. Plus, we had an outstanding bookstore about 10 minutes down the road. Shoutout Buffalo Street Books!
Do you have a favorite book?
American Gods by Neil Gaiman. It’s challenging, thoughtful, complex, funny, and utterly brilliant.
I have tried to get into Gaiman’s works. I haven’t read that one yet. It may be my final attempt.
Great to hear! It’s not for everyone, but if it’s for you, you’ll be enchanted.
In your author blurb, you mention running. What’s the longest distance you have done and are you concerned with time or the experience?
Hmm, not too far…maybe five miles? I definitely run more for the experience than for time. I love cranking up the volume on my favorite songs, then pounding the pavement. It’s a freeing experience.
How has the past year affected your writing?
In hindsight, it was harder on my writing than I realized. Around November 2019, I planned a novel that would follow five characters in three different years: 2000, 2010, and 2020. However, March 2020 brought the pandemic, which quickly dumpstered my enthusiasm for any writing about the year. So that book stalled.
I waffled between several replacement projects until I finally settled on Eggs for the Ageless, a trunk novel I hadn’t touched since 2014. Fortunately, I’ve been feeling much better about my writing of late, and Eggs will hatch in mid-2022, along with a bunch of other stuff.
Are you a music lover, and if so, care to share some of your favorites?
For sure! I’m a big fan of classic rock, particularly The Who, The Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, and The Doors. I used to despise modern music, but I’m getting less crotchety about that. Wolf Alice is my current favorite.
I have heard some Wolf Alice.
Do you have a favorite meal or snack to eat that other people just think is weird?
Taco Bell. I have an irrational affection for that place.
I think you should try Maui Taco—if there is still one in Manhattan. There was only one more in the mainland US—at the Minneapolis airport.
Dang, Google tells me there are none left on the mainland. But if I ever make it out to Hawaii, I’ll buy a taco and cheerily announce, “This one’s for Leon.”
That’s sad news. I always looked forward to the mad dash between flights. Are you ready for the lightning round?
Let’s do it!
Public or active transportation?
Active (though I’ll have to walk, because I learned to ride a bike relatively recently—I know, it’s sad)
At what depth does snow become annoying?
When the White Walkers start showing up
Last binged show?
Succession
Favorite city?
The Big Apple, of course!
Do you carry a wallet?
Yup
Hardest tongue twister?
The Peter Piper one
This has been a pleasure. Thanks for chatting. Any links you want to share
Likewise. Thanks so much, Leon! For those who’d like to learn more about my writing, you can find all my work at www.kyleamassa.com. Enjoy the feeling of deja vu from the theme!
New BookFunnel and StoryOrigin PromosThe story behind Free Book Friday:
I’ve met many authors and readers during my time marketing, cross-promoting, and blogging. I think writers have a responsibility to inform readers about all the indie authors out there in the very crowded world of book publishing. You can’t do it alone, and why would you when you have a supportive group available?
Readers don’t just read one author – they stick with their favorite genres. There lies the power in cross-promotion. If one of my readers buys a book from an author I promote, then chances are there will be a reciprocal effect, or so is the hope. Do I want to boost sales? Of course I do. Do I want to boost other’s sales? Why not. It’s called karma.
Author Offering Free Books
Kinda Like Free: KU Titles
Leon Stevens is a blogger, composer, artist, and an author of three books (so far): Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures, Journeys: Eight Original Pieces for Classical Guitar and The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories.
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December 8, 2021
Weird Wednesday: Flour, Water, Salt, Yeast
As I wait for my sourdough to rise, a thought came to mind:
Flour + water = glue
Flour + water + salt = glue the kids won’t eat
Flour + water + salt + yeast = bread
Where did the glue go?
I have several recipes for bread, and most of them have just those four ingredients. Yet, they all have subtle differences. I have gotten to the point where I don’t often refer to them anymore, preferring to go by look and feel . So yeah, I have turned into my grandmother. Just the right amount sticking on the spoon, sprinkle flour and kneed until it is only slightly tacky, yet smooth.
Hint #1: You can always add more flour, adding more water is messy.
My go-to bread is either a baguette (sometimes with a bit of rye flour) or a French loaf, followed by tray buns, whole wheat, and rye bread (like grandma used to make – Read more about that in this post: Food for Thought: Fitter or Fatter?), and of course, pizza dough.
Well, my dough is almost ready to shape, so I’ll end with these words of wisdom:
“Don’t make bread unless you are prepared to eat the whole loaf.”
-Leon
My newsletter goes out on Wednesdays:
Lines by Leon Newsletter: December 8
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Leon Stevens is a blogger, composer, artist, and an author of three books (so far): Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures, Journeys: Eight Original Pieces for Classical Guitar and The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories.
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December 6, 2021
Music Monday: Lullaby (an original)
Ten months ago. That’s when I started my series on composition—well my way of doing things. Call me unorthodox—Go ahead, it’s OK.
In five weeks I described my process of coming up with an idea for a piece, expanding and revising it, then putting it together, writing it down (cuz I’m gonna forget it), and finally recording. If you are new to me, then I would suggest spending some time reading the previous posts, otherwise you will spoil the ending.
Music Monday: Composing something original – Can one? Are all the good melodies taken? Maybe.
Music Monday: Opus 2 – Music theory explained. Terribly.
Music Monday: Opus 3 – Decomposing Composition – How do I compose, you ask? Slowly.
Music Monday: Opus 4-Writing it Down – How do I write down what I just played?
Music Monday: Opus 5 Playing and Recording – The bane of my existence. Well, not the whole bane, just a little bane, and not of my whole existence, just a part of it.
So, finally, the piece is complete. I have played it and listened to it so many times that I am sick of it. Nah, it’s still fun to play. Just not in front of anyone.
Did it really take ten months? And I thought I was a slow writer (I am).
I hope you enjoy it. Like my poetry, it is meant to be shared. There is more of my music here: My Music (and more)
-Leon
Leon Stevens is a blogger, composer, artist, and an author of three books (so far): Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures, Journeys: Eight Original Pieces for Classical Guitar and The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories.
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December 4, 2021
Weekend Wrap-up Dec 4: The Increment Excident
The Increment Excident
I stopped by a friend’s place to check on the dog. After a brisk walk, I kindly directed her to take care of her business as her owner would not be home until later. Having thoroughly explaining the situation, she proceeded to take her number 2.
Now, keep in mind that she is not a scientist by any stretch of the imagination, but I will let her explain in her own words what transpired, to create what followed that I consider a comedy of errors. And I quote:
“Well, you see, the excrement was lacking the necessary mass and density to allow gravity to exert sufficient force to extricate it form the luxurious hairs around my bumular area.” (See, I told you she wasn’t a scientist).
So, when I attempted to remove the problem in question with a sanitary wet-wipe, I must have pulled on one of those luxurious hairs situated near the aforementioned ‘bumular’ area, which startled her, causing her to dash away and make the ill-fated decision to take matters into her own ha—paws.
She scooched her butt along the frozen ground which accomplished two things—none of which were the desired outcome:
The action increased the surface area dramatically, diffusing it unevenly (not onto the ground)The temperature of the ground created what could only be called a ‘poopcicle’ in the ‘bumular’ areaOpening the door allowed the dog to seek shelter inside where rugs and carpets abound—perfect for doggie bottoms. I quickly scooped up the hell hound and placed her in the tub. Now, where is the puppy shampoo?, I wondered.
Not wanting to leave the dog very long in the tub, empty of course, I frantically opened cupboards and closet doors, to no avail. Warm water and a rag it is, then.
Now, the dog is used to being bathed and groomed, so thankfully she did put up with me and the warm, wet rag, and several minutes of washing and rinsing. When I had effectively removed all traces of unwanted residue, I dried her off and let her sit on the towel to complete the process.
Finding the only dog hair product available, a bottle of fur de-matting/conditioning spray, I sprayed the fragrant aerosol mist on her behind and spent the next few minutes combing out the luxurious hair around her bumular area.
My work done (this was not what I had expected), I received the kiss I always get when I leave. She watched me sadly as I closed the door. As I left, I could only think of one thing:
“She’s going to go lick her ass, isn’t she . . .?”
From my blog this week:Music Monday: Songs You Might Want to Hear– Who is Donovan Woods? The answer may surprise you.
Thursday Thoughts: A Book About Nothing (contains spoilers) – My thoughts on story writing.
Free Book Friday / In Conversation With Author G.G. Collins – Would you believe I only have 2 left in the queue? Any authors interested? Heck, I’ll take anyone!
From the blogs of other’s:http://stuartaken.net/2021/12/03/short-stories-do-you-read-them/As a short story writer, a resounding YES!http://tessatalksbooks.blog/2021/12/03/starting-a-book-blog-bookbloggerhop-coffeeramblings/Book bloggers are good for writersLeon Stevens is a blogger, composer, artist, and an author of three books (so far): Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures, Journeys: Eight Original Pieces for Classical Guitar and The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories.
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December 3, 2021
Fibbing Friday
I haven’t participated in this for a while but I came across Maggie’s post and after reading the first question, I quickly compiled my own. Now to go back and read hers and others.
Fibbing Friday is hosted by Frank this week over at his blog Thoughts and Theories. What was Fahrenheit 451 about?Three college buddies having a hot wings contest.
In 1984, who or what was “Big Brother”?The guy that I used to have to share a room with until my sister moved out.
What do the Hunger Games supposedly commemorate?Weight Watchers changing its name to WW.
What exactly was the Andromeda Strain?Doing too much heavy lifting.
What was Logan’s Run about?What Millennials would be like in the future.
What is the difference between the red pill and the blue pill in The Matrix?One was a generic brand, so about $43.
What is the significance of the different hats in The Adjustment Bureau?Just there for this question to be asked X number of years later.
What happens to all the Martians at the end of The War of the Worlds?They realize that we already polluted our water, so it wasn’t worth the effort.
What vessel does Capt. Nemo pilot?A dory.
What do Axel, Otto, and Hans find at the center of the earth?An Amazon Distribution warehouse.
That was fun!
Leon Stevens is a blogger, composer, artist, and an author of three books (so far): Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures, Journeys: Eight Original Pieces for Classical Guitar and The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories.
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Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
Free Book Friday / In Conversation With Author G.G. Collins
About the interviews:
When I published my first book, I looked for ways to reach new readers, and being a brand new author, participating in various book bloggers interviews was a good way to start. Some interviews were standard questions, while others had more individuality built into them.
I then did a twist on the author interview by interviewing myself (Leon Interviews Himself). I then thought it would be fun to get to know some of the authors I was cross-promoting with, and the Friday Conversations were born. Guess what? They are a lot of work. I look up the authors information, visit the website so I can craft a unique set of questions (OK, there are a few standard ones) to let my readership get to know these new authors. Worth the work? You bet. Here is today’s conversation:
G.G. Collins loves the southwestern US where many of her stories are located. She can be found hiking through ruins of the ancient ones and enjoying New Mexican cuisine. When not traipsing about, she makes up stories with great friendships, quirky characters and, oh yeah, dead bodies. In real life she shares her time with a man, several neurotic—and psychic—cats and the ongoing struggle to grow a garden.
In Conversation With: G.G Collins
Today I have the pleasure of sitting down with author G.G. Collins. Thanks for stopping by.
You’re welcome. Nothing I enjoy more than talking about writing, except maybe stringing words together.
Can I offer you in a beverage this fine [insert time of day here]? —Morning. It’s always morning, Leon.
Tea drinker. Hot, iced or instant. My favorite brew is Assam.
Coming right up!
You have conducted some interviews yourself, but with the characters you created. How did that come about?
Reporting made it easy for me to interview my own characters. I noticed that some publications liked to use character interviews so I thought, geez, this would be fun. My favorite was the interview I did with the characters of Atomic Medium. Rachel Blackstone works for a magazine in Santa Fe called High Desert Country. So I assembled everyone on the rooftop and placed salsa, chips and margaritas on the table. The alien bad guy was a little defensive at one point saying, “Who are you calling mad? Why is the so-called space alien always the bad guy to Earthlings? We need to organize. We have rights.”
These interviews are entertaining and they give the reader some insight to the story. I dare say they help the writer with that too, perhaps enabling more fully-formed characters as a series progresses.
Having dialogue with your characters does give them an extra dimension.
Do you write full time?
Oh yes, but I have a writing day job which complements my fiction writing. I also have two blogs. One is my book blog Reluctant Medium at Large. It’s not just book stuff, but lots of quirky things about Santa Fe, New Mexico where my stories are set. The other is Parallel Universe at Large where I write mostly reviews of international TV shows and the occasional news posts.
Did you write the Reluctant Medium series before your Young Adult books?
The young adult books were first, followed by the Taylor Browning Cozy Mystery, Dead Editor File. But oddly Reluctant Medium was the first published even though written later. I guess I’d finally done my time learning writing. Taylor Browning was inspired when I worked at a book publisher. We published a mystery series and I thought wouldn’t it be interesting to write a book about a mystery editor who does sleuthing on the side. You know, editing real murder mysteries is not possible, but have real consequences.
Rachel Blackstone is a reporter and I began writing her shortly after I began reporting. Real life has a way of intruding nicely into fictional efforts. Neither were originally conceived as a series, but developed that way.
What was the first book that you remember reading?
Oh my, the one that made the biggest impression on me was, “We Have Always Lived in the Castle” by Shirley Jackson. I read it when I was about 12 or 13. Wow! I didn’t expect that ending. I’ve always loved the weird and spooky. I’ll still watch “Twilight Zone” reruns. My favorite is “The Odyssey of Flight 33.” I’m a big “Supernatural” fan and certainly it has encouraged the storylines in my Rachel Blackstone series.
What do you do to unwind, or do you have to?
Yoga makes the top of the unwind list, but most types of exercise will work. I watch international TV series and review many of them on my Parallel Universe at Large blog. Movies before pandemic; can’t wait to go back. And I love to travel, although that’s not always relaxing. Travel today, can be quite challenging.
Challenging is an understatement …
You live in the US Southwest. Did you grow up there or were you drawn to it?
Both. For decades the Southwest has attracted artists and writers. For artists, it’s the clear light. The sky is special in this area; vivid azure. For this writer, it is the magic of the place. I am so aware of the ancientness, of the peoples who came before, the Ancient Puebloans. Their history and culture teaches me about the importance of Mother Earth. Bandelier is spectacular with its cliff dwellings and breathtaking Alcove House, some140 feet above the canyon floor. It is reached by stone steps and four ladders. I used this in the storyline of Anasazi Medium. These ruins take me back in time. Every occasion I walk a trail, I think of those who walked it before me. It infuses my writing with timelessness and history.
It’s interesting that you mention the Ancient Puebloans. My latest story mentions Mesa Verde, describing how an alien civilization lived.
Some believed in the star ancestors.
I also enjoy hiking. What is your most memorable hike?
The first time we walked the Borrego Trail outside Santa Fe, we kept hearing water. We thought it’s just around that next bend, or maybe the next bend. We finally gave up, turned around and headed back which is mostly up hill and through the forest. It taught us a lesson; you have to save enough energy to get back. And being wimpy hikers, that’s important. The Aspen Vista Loop is fantastic during the autumn with the cascade of golden aspen leaves. But beware. It’s a tough climb.
I usually have music playing, except when I’m writing. You?
I actually listen to music more when I’m writing. But nothing with vocals – or I’ll be singing and that’s not good for writing, or listening. Usually, I’ll choose something like David Arkenstone, Stephen Halpern or Ottmar Liebert. And Spa on Sirius XM is nice too.
[Crash. Boom]
Oh, you know what that sound means, don’t you? That signals the lightning round. Are you game?
Line them up.
Favorite drink?
Margarita, margarita, margarita.
I enjoy my tequila straight. A nice Reposado or Anejo for sipping. But I won’t pass up a Margarita—on the rocks, of course.
Rocks or frozen.
Dine out or eat in??
Out! Please!
Favorite city?
Santa Fe, New Mexico with Paris, France at a close second.
Last binged show?
“The Code.”
Ever pick up an armadillo?
No, but they’re really cute. You know they can remain under water for six minutes and walk on the bottom of a pond? They can also inflate their stomachs allowing them to float. Too much information?
Nope. That’s good to know. Might make it into another quiz.
Can you solve a Rubik’s Cube?
No interest in doing so.
What search engine did you use before Google?
There was a search engine before Google?!
What does G.G. stand for?
Pseudonym
This has been fun, but we need to wrap it up. Any links you wish to add?
The new Taylor Browning Cozy Mystery, “Editor Kill Fee” is scheduled for release in 2022. Taylor will be investigating the disappearance of the president of the local mystery book club. Is it supernatural or just a wrong turn?
Books available at Amazon worldwide: G.G. Collins Amazon Page
Blogs:
https://reluctantmediumatlarge.wordpress.com/
https://paralleluniverseatlarge.wordpress.com/
Twitter: G_G_Collins
The story behind Free Book Friday:
I’ve met many authors and readers during my time marketing, cross-promoting, and blogging. I think writers have a responsibility to inform readers about all the indie authors out there in the very crowded world of book publishing. You can’t do it alone, and why would you when you have a supportive group available?
Readers don’t just read one author – they stick with their favorite genres. There lies the power in cross-promotion. If one of my readers buys a book from an author I promote, then chances are there will be a reciprocal effect, or so is the hope. Do I want to boost sales? Of course I do. Do I want to boost other’s sales? Why not. It’s called karma.
New BookFunnel and StoryOrigin PromosAuthor Offering Free Books
Kinda Like Free: KU Titles
Leon Stevens is a blogger, composer, artist, and an author of three books (so far): Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures, Journeys: Eight Original Pieces for Classical Guitar and The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories.
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Oh, pick me!
C’mon, space stuff!
