Sharon Skinner's Blog, page 4

Whirlwind of Book Events

Book Events and Author Appearances are standard for me.

This year has already been a whirlwind of book events. From the Kyrene Young Writers Conference, to Read Across America Day, Tucson Festival of Books, Renaissance Festival, Mesa Book Crawl, and the LA Times Festival of Books, etc.

And, as the early season of book events winds down, I am feeling relieved to be able to take some time to refocus some of my energy on writing.

 

AUTHOR BUSY-NESS

As authors, we have so many things pulling at us beyond creating and drafting good stories. There is, of course, revision and editing, to make the stories sing. Then there is the social media we do to stay in touch with readers. And, for many of us, there are talks to give, workshops to teach, schools visits, webinars, conferences, and book events.

Don’t get me wrong, book events are great. It’s time I get to spend connecting with readers. There is nothing like seeing a fan excited for my next book. Or hearing how meaningful and/or joyful my stories are for them. It’s encouraging and motivating to hear from a reader who can’t wait for that next book. And it’s gratifying to see the writers I talk to light up with fresh motivation to keep working and creating. I love that.

But, as much as I love interacting with readers and signing books, it can be hard to focus on writing the next book when you’re caught up in the whirlwind. It’s nice to have some down time from the travel and public appearances and book events. I not only need the time to recharge, but to spend time with my characters and their stories without worrying about that next panel or making plane and hotel arrangements.

 

UP NEXT: WRITING RESIDENCY

That said, I really only have a couple of weeks before I start my term as a 2023 Arizona State Library Writer in Residence. May through June I will be teaching workshops and providing one-on-one office hour consultations for writers at the Chandler Basha and Main Library Branches. It’s work I love, but it is also a big commitment.

Thankfully, part of the time I spend at the library branches during my Writing Residency will be designated to my own writing. The WIP has picked up momentum, so I am excited to finish the manuscript drafting and get it into the hands of my Beta readers and my editor. I know my publisher is chomping at the bit to know it will be completed on time! So, it’s nice to be between book events and have a short respite from the whirlwind.

 

Interested in what I write? Check out my books!

For more about what I do as a Book Coach, click here.

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Abandon Ship Drill or…

Around and Around and Around She Goes…

In 1980, I was assigned to serve aboard the USS Jason. This was the first time in US Naval history that women would officially be part of a ship’s crew. Women were not allowed to serve on combatant vessels. So, prior to our arrival, Jason had her large guns removed to qualify as a non-combatant ship. There were 45 women initially assigned to the crew, serving across all departments.

When I initially arrived, I was given a great deal of training, covering everything from the layout of the ship and a refresher on the shipboard compartment numbering system so I could find my way around to the locations of my duty assignments and emergency protocol.

Going In Circles

During the normal course of things, we were free to traverse the ship in any direction. However, for drills and emergencies we were taught to move “up and forward to the starboard (right) side, and down and aft to the port (left) side.” This protocol was used to ensure the safe, and efficient flow of traffic during emergencies.

We were taught about such things as manning the rails (standing at the rails of the ship facing out during ceremonies, arrivals and departures), shifting colors (the process of changing one display flag for another, which takes place during port arrivals and departures), and getting familiarized with the ship’s bells system of timekeeping. A complicated system based on four-hour watches, that uses one to eight bell rings to express the time of day. You can dig into the U.S Navy’s Ship’s Bells Timekeeping system here, if you are so inclined.

Each sailor was also assigned to a specific small boat in case of an emergency that required the crew to abandon ship.

Abandon. . . All Hope

During our first abandon ship drill, I headed off to my assigned small boat. Being on the port side of the ship at the time, I only had to go down and aft a short way to arrive at the location of my assignment. But, when I got there, I was told I was not on the list as assigned to that boat. I was sent to the forward deck, starboard side, to see the Bosun, who had the master list for all small boat assignments. This required  another trip and a half around the ship in order to get forward and up two levels.

Once I reached my destination, I checked in. After some searching through several pages—it was 1980, the list contained almost a thousand names, and was on paper—the Bosun informed me that I was actually assigned to a different boat than what I had been told. I traveled around the ship a couple more times, having to go down several levels and midships on the port side.

To my relief, I was told I was indeed assigned to this particular boat. We were dismissed a short time later, the Abandon Ship Drill having come to an end.

I was thankful it had only been a drill, or else I likely would have ended up a water casualty.

I wondered afterward, if it was a simple hazing. In fact, I hoped it was. Because the idea of incompetence at that level made my remaining sea duty tour a frightening prospect.

 

Want More Like This?

To Read More About Sharon’s Time in the Navy Click Here

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Taking a Mini-Writing Retreat

Why a Mini-Writing Retreat?

Sometimes you just need a break.

The word retreat is defined by Merriam-Webster as the “act or process of withdrawing especially from what is difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable.” And one way Dictionary.com defines retreat as “the act of withdrawing, as into safety or privacy; retirement; seclusion.” For most of us, the mundane day-to-day isn’t necessarily fraught with danger, but it can come to feel difficult and even disagreeable at times. It can also feel like being in a rut or like we are being bombarded with everything all at once with no chance to slow down and take a breath.

So, taking a break, even a small one, can be a great way to reset.

A mini-writing retreat can get our writing restarted or give us just the boost we need to get over the hump of a writing slog, or provide the opportunity for our refreshed minds to refocus and find just the right solution for that terrible tangle in the plot.

My Mini-Writing Retreat

In February, I took a short break from the day-to-day and spent a couple of days decompressing and writing in San Diego. I decided to use the time as a mini-writing retreat.

During my mini-writing retreat, I spent time exploring the shops along Highway 101, walking on the beach, watching the sunset, eating yummy food, sitting outside in the garden and, of course, writing.

I needed the recharge and reset more than I knew. While I saved and planned for this particular trip for some time and enjoyed it immensely. However, I can’t always expend the time and money for a trip to the beach for a mini-writing retreat.

 

 

I do most of my writing, and my book coaching work, in my home. And while I use my desktop for zoom meetings, editing and book coaching work, when I write, I like to relocate to the living room with my laptop. That said, sometimes a greater change of environment is sometimes necessary to get my brain more fully engaged.

Low-cost mini-writing retreat ideas:

Coffee shop co-writing with a buddy: I have a writing friend I enjoy spending time with writing at a local coffee shop. We meet up, chat for a few minutes about what we are writing and then we sit at a table and write. We always make sure to buy something to support the venue!

Nature hike with writing time: There are some great places in and around the Phoenix valley where I can go and wander through nature that also have food and/or seating areas where I can sit and write.

Library writing time: Sometimes, I just like the idea of being surrounded by rows and rows of books. All those stories! And mine with the potential to sit on the shelf beside them! Also, I like to peek at the shelves and see if my books are there or checked out.

It’s Science!

There is plenty of scientific evidence to support the idea that such mini-writing retreats are great for revving up our creativity and increase productivity.

According to Annie Murphy Paul, author of The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain, taking a mini-writing retreat such as the ones outlined in these examples can improve our thinking in powerful ways.

For example, co-writing with a buddy is a way to engage in a form of thinking with our peers. Though, the coffeeshop might not be the best location for this activity, due to the potential distractions in such an environment. However, a quiet corner out of the way where we are technically mirroring one another in the act of writing can move us to be more productive.

Natural settings help us to “think better by enhancing our ability to maintain our focus on the task in front of us” because nature provides a respite from the cognitive demands of urban living.

And being surrounded by the “built environment” of a library with the sights and smells of literature is an example, at least for me, of working in an enriched space. One wherein the setting reflects back to me the richness of the written word and the potential of my stories to become accessible to others, if only I can get them  written!

When your writing feels bogged down or your story stalls, a mini-writing retreat could be just what you need to get you moving again!

 

Interested in what I write on my mini-writing retreats? Check out my books!

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My Top Ten Navy Boot Camp Lessons (Good, Bad & Ugly…Smelling)

My Top Ten Navy Boot Camp Lessons (Good, Bad & Ugly…Smelling)

Not gonna lie, Navy Boot Camp was no picnic. In fact, the initial Recruit Division Commander (RDC) assigned to our training unit was beyond awful. She was so bad, she was removed and replaced about midway through our eight-week training period. That said, I learned many new things in those eight weeks. Here are My Top Ten Navy Boot Camp Lessons (Good, Bad & Ugly…Smelling):

 

1. Psychological Warfare is Stupid:

As stated in a previous post, “US Navy Boot Camp-Day One: Welcome to RTC Orlando,” we arrived at NTC Orlando by bus long after midnight and were then lined up and herded through a series of rooms where we were issued a variety of uniform gear. We then marched (awkwardly) into a barracks room with no further information beyond, “pick a rack and get to sleep.”

A few short hours later before dawn a group of people crashed into the room banging trash can lids and yelling and screaming, “Get up! Hit the line.” A room full of startled, sleep-deprived women leaped up with no idea where we were, what was happening, or what or where the line was. Chaos ensued until someone finally decided to tell us what was expected of us.

Personally, rather than being cowed into submission, I found the entire episode annoying and a ridiculous way to begin a “training” experience. Unless you want the trainees to view boot camp as some kind of asinine joke.

2. Ditty Bags Are Not Better Than Rifles:

Notebooks and pencils had to be carried everywhere. Doesn’t sound so bad, right? Because male recruits carried wooden rifles everywhere, they were directed to carry their pencils and notebooks in their back pockets. Female recruits were required to carry them in little, Navy-blue, vinyl ditty bags. These bags had to be carried with our left elbow bent and fingers wrapped around the end strap, the bag resting along our forearms. In Florida. In summer. By the end of the first week, the bottoms of those bags were nasty with soaked-in sweat and stunk to infinity and beyond. And they were impossible to clean. I would much rather have carried a wooden rifle.

3. Some Contraband is Necessary:

The only thing we were officially allowed to carry in the ditty bag described above was the aforementioned pencil and notebook. Also, they were subject to search at any moment to ensure there was no contraband being hauled around. Imagine the glee, the first time a male RDC stopped a female recruit and opened up her ditty bag only to discover a contraband toothbrush holder. Now, imagine the glee of the recruit when said RDC opened up that toothbrush holder prepared to write the recruit up for an even more terrible offense, only to open it and discover it contained a spare tampon.

4. I Was Raised for Mess Hall Madness:

Mess times were regulated in order to ensure that everyone managed to get through meals within a set amount of time. Unfortunately, if things weren’t moving on schedule, that didn’t mean the schedule shifted. Often it meant that if your unit was last in the door, you might only get a few short minutes to shovel in as much food as possible before having to bus your tray and dash out to form up so as not to be late. Luckily for me, I grew up with four brothers who ate like ravenous wolves, and a father who would remind us (jokingly, I think) before each meal, “He who eats the fastest, gets the mostest.”

5. There is a Reason They Call it the Grinder:

Drilling and marching was done on a huge stretch of blacktop called “the Grinder.” Rain or shine. The only exceptions being the Red Flag days, when the heat and humidity were so extreme as to threaten physical health. Otherwise, we drilled. Or, on the really fun days, were forced to stand at attention for hours, dripping, unable to wipe the sweat from our eyes or swat away the viciously hungry insects that chewed on every square of uncovered skin and had a particular lust for face flesh. Talk about a daily grind.

6. Things Don’t Have to Make Sense aka Don’t Ask Why:

There are a lot of things that don’t make sense in the Navy, especially in Boot Camp. I get that it’s because Boot Camp training is designed to teach recruits to follow orders without question and to learn discipline. You also get to learn new concepts like, “New gear is dirty gear,” so must be washed before worn. Also, the importance of “correctly” folding your skivvies (underwear) left in, right over, bottom up and stacked fold out. (NOTE: I understand that this has changed a bit with the times, but skivvy folding is still very specifically spelled out.)

7. Don’t eat the Chicken Salad:

Chicken Salad Sunday deserves and will have its own post. For now, suffice to say that, when it comes to chicken salad, if it smells bad, it probably is bad.

8. The Navy Has its Own Language:

I didn’t expect to learn a foreign language in Boot Camp, but the Navy has its own words for things. Most Navy terms spring from shipboard service. Not using the proper terminology is akin to blasphemy. Here are a few key words we learned quickly: Overhead (ceiling), deck (floor), bulkhead (wall), starboard (right side), port (left side), berthing compartment (sleeping quarters/barracks), gedunk (snack bar). (See also #6 “skivvies.”) The Navy also tells time differently. Shipboard time is divided into 8-hour increments and measured in bells. Yep. I think I’ll save that for another post, as well.

9. Being Loud Pays:

My singing background and theater training came in handy. I was assigned early on to the Bluejackets Chorus and ultimately rose to the position of Recruit Chief Petty Officer in Charge of the Blue Jacket Chorus. Why me? Well, I used that theater training of mine to sing louder than anyone else and could raise my voice above the entire chorus to shout commands. My job was to call out marching orders to the chorus, marching them on and off the field during performances and to encourage them during practice by shouting, “Sing out, recruits!” (h/t to Gypsy Rose Lee.)

10. The Answer to “What is Scarier Than Being Chased By a Bear?”:

There are few things that will make me run a long distance. In fact, I often tell my youngest daughter, an avid runner, that I don’t understand why anyone would run any real distance unless a bear is chasing them. That said, one of the requirements to graduate Navy Boot was to run 1.5 miles in under 20 minutes. I realize for most people this is not a huge feat, but for me (always a sprinter, never a marathoner), it was a big deal. The only reason I managed it was the threat of having to spend even more time at NTC Orlando Boot Camp.

 

To Read More About Sharon’s Time in the Navy Click Here

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MY YEAR IN BOOKS – 2022

It’s January, so a great time to take a look back at my year in books.

 

I BOOKS!

I love to read and have always been an eclectic and voracious reader. Being an author, editor and book coach is a great excuse to embrace what I love and do even more of it.

We can learn a great deal about story and writing craft from reading and analyzing books.

I have been much more diligent in tracking the books I have read the past few years. There are a lot of great tools for tracking books. I actually use BookBuddy to keep track of my writing books. But for tracking the books I read each year, I use Goodreads. I find it user friendly, and I like the way I can set up specific book shelves and pull detailed stats for the year.

 

MY 2022 READING SUMMARY

It’s cool to be able to look at my reading year as a visual and also to see the overall stats, like the total number of books read (90), average number of pages per book (226), and total number of pages read (20,374).

MY YEAR IN PICTURE BOOKS

For example, since I have book coaching clients writing Picture Books (PB), I do try to read a number of PBs each year. It’s nice to be able to see a visual of those books. This year, I read and tracked 23 published PBs, both fiction and non-fiction.

 

 

AND THEN SOME…

Of course, as a freelance editor and book coach, my year in books includes quite a few pre-published manuscripts that are not represented here. So, my page read is quite a bit higher than reflected by the Goodreads stats Above. But this post covers the published works that I consumed in 2022.

 

If you have a Goodreads account, you can find me there. Pop in to my Goodreads profile and see what I am reading.

And if you’re interested in reading what I write, you can check out some of my books, like The Healer’s Legacy Trilogy, or my newest MG novel, Lostuns Found.

 

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US Navy Boot Camp-Day One: Welcome to RTC Orlando

Boot Camp Send-off?

I really don’t recall the first leg of travel to Navy Boot Camp. A lot of things fade after 40+ years. I was twenty years old and already out of the house when I joined. I had also signed up a month or so earlier on delayed entry. So, there was no big family send off. Nothing to really bookmark.

The flight from California to Florida was also uneventful.

 

The Real Journey to Orlando

My journey really started at the depot where they loaded us on the buses. It was the middle of the night, and I shivered—not from the cold, it was June in Florida, after all, and not particularly chilly—but because dread and anticipation rode my being equally.

And I was tired. It’s a long way from California to Florida. Even longer when you’re barely twenty and you’ve signed your life away for the next four years, placed yourself in a position to be told what to do, when to do it, and how. After all my rebelliousness and leaving home at an early age, here I was, standing among strangers, loading bags onto a gray bus in the gray night, not knowing what to expect, yet knowing I had agreed to place my life in someone else’s hands.

TBH-Irony was not a concept I knew well before I entered this phase of my life’s journey, and I had no idea we would grow to be such great companions along the way.

The bus rumbled through the dark and I don’t recall there being much conversation, but time and distance fray the edges of memory. I only know that I was quiet.

How long did it take? Twenty minutes from the Airport to RTC Orlando, according to http://rtcorlando.homestead.com/RTC02.html, but for me it seemed longer.

When we got off the bus at the receiving center, we were lined up and ushered inside where we were given a stack of bedding and uniforms and instructed to label and hand over our personal belongings. From there, we were marched—not that you could call what we managed actual marching, yet—to a barracks and assigned a “rack,” the Navy term for a bed.

It was sometime after 1:30am when we fell (or climbed, if you were on the top rack) into bed.

Boot Camp Welcome!

Suddenly, there was a great ruckus. Metal garbage cans crashed down the center of the room. Trash can lids clanged together. People yelled, screamed and blew ear-piercing whistles, directly in our faces.

Startled and bleary-eyed, 78 young women scrambled out of bed, trying tried to make sense of the chaos. Some of them ran in circles, still asleep and with no idea how to escape the madness. The command to “hit the line” rang out over and over, but no one knew what “the line” was, much less where to find it, nor how to “hit it.”

Finally, the “red ropes” and “blue ropes” as we came to know them, started to give clearer instructions. “Stand here!” They pointed and ordered. “Straighten up!” “Hands at your sides!” “Eyes forward.”

We finally found ourselves assembled into two more or less straight lines, standing at what passed for us at the time as attention—wide-eyed, groggy-headed, adrenaline-filled, ready-to-be-hatched sailors.

It was 0400 hours.

“Welcome to Navy Boot Camp Orlando.”

 

To Read More About Sharon’s Time in the Navy Click Here

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I Made a “Best Books” List for Shepherd.

I made a “best books” list for Shepherd. Here’s the how and why…

Making a “best books” list is not easy. And, as we all know, the entire endeavor is really subjective. So, whenever you read a list of “best” anything, YMMV (your mileage may vary). That said, when the opportunity to make a list for Shepherd was presented to me, I went for it. Why? Because lists of things that other people enjoyed are great places to find new things we might like. Plus, I love sharing good books with people!

So, I made a list called “The best middle-grade adventures with magical elements.”

My approach to making this list of “best” books was simple, though the finally decision of what to include was incredibly difficult. This is especially true for someone who reads hundreds of books.

My Process

Here is how I approached making this “best books” list:

I chose middle-grade adventures, partly because I released a new middle-grade adventure this year, Lostuns Found , but also because I wanted to share some of the really fun middle-grade books I’ve read over the past couple of years.I wanted each book to have a touch of magic in it, because I love magic!I felt the books should be recent, meaning published within the past few years.I decided to include the books that have really stuck with me and that I find myself recommending over and over.

It took time to narrow down the list, even though I restricted it to books I had read just in the past couple of years, and I know there are others that could easily be on this list, including many I have not yet read, but I am only one person and I can only read so many books in a year. And, in all reality, this is just my opinion.

Again, YMMV. But you really can’t go wrong by picking up any of the wonderful books on this list for a young reader (or yourself)!

And if you’re looking for more middle-grade book recommendations, you might also like “The best children’s fantasy books about fighting injustice”

 

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5 Things I Learned Writing Blood From a Rose

Here are 5 Things I learned Writing Blood From a Rose:

I learn something with every story, every poem, every book. Every time I sit down and write out an aspect of what I think or who I am or just let me imagination run wild through fields of flowers and thorny brambles. Here are 5 things I learned writing Blood From a Rose.

 

1) The Subconscious is a Weird and Wonderful Place

I have been collecting my short work for this collection for far too many years. I knew what the title was and even saw the cover art years ago. And yet, there wasn’t enough suitable work to include. So, I had to keep writing.

Funny thing. Until recently, writing dark has always felt a bit outside my norm, something that happened when I aimed for short. Especially, my flash fiction. I mean, I could start with a picture of a lovely rose and end up in a dark cemetery with a fresh-risen army of dead. I have even likened it to a palate cleanser for my brain. A way to clear out the creepy cobwebs and so my longer work delve into brighter places.

But looking at my bulk of work, I realize that there is actually a lot of dark and light in my novels. They just tend to arc into the light.

And when I finally focused in on writing specifically to fill out this collection, I discovered that my dark side has a pretty wicked sense of humor.

 

2) Demons Can be Hilarious

Speaking of humor. Demons can be really funny. Especially when you put them in a sitcom relationship/setting and let them loose.

I have always considered myself to be spontaneously funny. I love a good pun or an unusual play on words. But I never really thought of myself as a comedic writer. Even when people told me they found humor in my writing, I’d think, huh, well that’s cool.

Then I wrote Collars & Curses and discovered a snarky teen voice I wish had been mine decades ago. And I found myself channeling my weird brand of humor through Merissa. Smart-mouthed quips? Check. Running rat jokes? Check. Hmmm?

So, when I set out to write “A Day in the Life of Kel-Fazz,” I knew I wanted to have fun with it. And I did. The best part, though, was when I heard that first person laugh out loud at Kel and Harb. That’s when I knew I had to have more of that. So I wrote a second story for them and I still want more.

I hope readers will, too. Because I plan to spend more time with Kel and Harb, writing their stories, because frankly I find these two demons incredibly joyful to hang out with.

 

3) Things Can Fall Together Beautifully

There are many ways to structure a book, especially one that is a collection of shorts. But even when the shorts have a commonality, finding a way to make the structure meaningful can be incredibly difficult.

When I sat down to organize the work for Blood From a Rose, I flailed at first to find a way to make the material tell a story. Yes, there is a lot of darkness in the work, but some of it is darker than the rest, and some takes some odd twisty turns, and some of it is downright, well, funny.

So, I moved things around, looking for ways to pull the threads together in a meaningful way. It felt like trying to work out one of those complicated puzzle boxes. Each time I moved one piece, another seemed to move out of place.

Then, one night, it just came together. I saw the thread, not as something that ties all of the work together but as a way to guide the reader through the labyrinth of stories and ideas. There are no minotaurs chasing you through the work, but there is a journey from the darkening of nightfall to the gray light of dawn. I guess it’s fair to say that, even in this dark collection, I have found a way to make the journey arc toward the light.

 

4) Cover Artists are Awesome

Okay, this is not a new lesson. But every time I work with an artist who brings my vision to life by creating cover art beyond my imagining, I find myself in awe. This is just as true for the photography and artistry of Mark Greenawalt as for any of the illustrations made for my book covers. Mark’s ability to create just the right the mood and tone to convey the heart of this book is nothing short of stunning. Of course, the cover model, Lindsee Lockwood is also stunning and could not be more perfect.

 

5) I Am a Little All Over the Place

I’m not sure what it says about me that I write everything from fun picture books to light horror/dark fantasy for more mature audiences. Though, now that I think about it, some of the humor in Blood From a Rose would not be considered mature by some people. I will say I have always been blessed with a vivid imagination. And I have also always had a need to dabble in many things. TBH-I just love writing speculative fiction, and I have a lot of strange stories inside me. I’m also really happy that so many people want to read them!

Also, stay tuned because I feel myself being pulled in another altogether new direction.

 

For More Posts About Writing, Click Here

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5 Ways Readers Can Support Their Favorite Authors (Indie or Otherwise)

Show Some Book Love

Readers love books and authors, we know this. But sometimes, being a writer can feel like a lonely pursuit. As solitary as some of us are, we really do appreciate knowing that readers care, that they love the characters and stories we create and we are thrilled when they say nice things about us in public forums. Writing is work we love that becomes more joyful when readers let us know they care! Here are 5 Ways Readers Can Support Their Favorite Authors and let us know you care about our stories.

 

1) Post Reviews

It’s great to post a review on Amazon, but there are plenty of other places to post reviews. And you don’t have to write a new one, either. Just cut and paste your review in all the places you frequent.

Other places to post book reviews include:

Barnesandnoble.com
GoodReads
LibraryThing
Reddit
BookBub
Tweet it out
Post on Instagram

And when you post your review on your SM platforms, make sure to tag the author. They will want to boost your post.

 

2) Maximize Positive Amazon Reviews

Authors love good reviews. We love knowing that our books are resonating with readers.

But did you know that it’s not only helpful to review books on Amazon, but that you can boost a good review by hitting the “Helpful” button below it? Reviews that receive the most “Helpful” clicks rise to the top of the review list and are automatically set to be the first reviews new readers will see.

It’s helpful to click the “Helpful” button. So, help your favorite authors by boosting a good review of their books!

 

3) Recommend an Author and/or Their Book to Others

Word of mouth, from one reader to another, is an incredibly effective way to support an author. Helping authors gain new readers is a great way to help spread the word. You can also recommend an author’s book on your favorite Book Community sites. You don’t have to be a BookTokker or an Instagram Reels wizard to post a recommendation in your readers FaceBook group, or other Reader Communities.

 

4) Share the Book (and Links) on Your Socials

You can share books on Twitter, on Instagram, or anywhere else you hang out. A simple, “Hey, I liked this book, you should read it,” is a great way to help promote a book and author you love.

 

5) Show Up (In-person or Virtually)

Authors show up to book stores, libraries, book festivals, and readings. They do webinars, Discord events, and go live on Instagram and FaceBook. These are all great opportunities to show some love. Many of the above listed appearances are free for readers to attend. All you have to do to support is show up! (Though, buying a book is always nice, too.)

 

So, if want to show an author some book love, you can’t go wrong with one or more of these 5 Ways Readers Can Support Their Favorite Authors.

 

Here are some handy links to my books, just in case you’d like to show me some book love.

BOOK SHOP   GoodReads     Brick Cave Media    Amazon    IndieBound    BookBub     BarnesandNoble

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USS Jason: Rainbow at Sea

During my time aboard the USS Jason (AR-8), I was assigned to the R4 Division. We were mainly Electronics Technicians (ETs)—often called Twidgets. I have never quite discerned why. Although, the story goes that it had to do with the tools we carried for tweaking electronic equipment…srsly IDk—and Radiomen, including a few Cryptologic Techs (CTs)—Or, as we called them because of their insignia (a crossed lightning bolt and feather), “Lightning-fast-chicken-pluckers.”

US Navy ET (Electronics Technician) patch.USS Jason AR-8 PatchCT (Cryptologic Technician) Insignia

The Jason’s ongoing mission was to provide support and repairs for the Navy’s fleet of ships and subs. With extensive onboard stores of parts and supplies, along with a complete welding shop, pipe-fitting shop, and machine shop, and our own complement of divers, we could pretty much repair any ship from the waterline up and make a number of below waterline repairs, as well.

Our division repaired and maintained electronic equipment, including radar, sonar, and radio/communications systems, aboard our ship and others. The R4 Division was led by CW-02 (Chief Warrant Officer) Wilson, one of the only female warrants at the time. As well as being a  capable Navy officer and leader, she was also smart and easy-going, as ship’s officers go. She’d gone prematurely gray (likely due to the antics of some of her subordinates over the years), and we affectionately referred to her as Granny. Although, while she certainly knew it, we never dared say it to her face.

CW (Chief Warrant Officer) 02 Wilson at her desk aboard the USS Jason.

In the later period of our WestPac (Western Pacific) cruise, we spent two months anchored at the island of Diego Garcia, a small bit of BIOT (British Indian Ocean Territory) in the middle of the Indian Ocean that we not so affectionately referred to as “British revenge for 1776.” Don’t get me wrong, it was an idyllic setting, beautiful and serene, but it was a working port in the middle of nowhere. Back then, with no cell phones, no internet, etc., we were pretty cut off. Add to that, no pier, we weren’t even able to go ashore unless we managed to snag a seat on a small boat. I can verify that channel fever is real.

At some point during our time in Diego Garcia, I was assigned the task of scraping and repainting the AC unit in our division space. I somehow managed to talk my way into getting permission to paint it something other than battalion gray.

When Granny walked in and saw it the first time, she just looked down and shook her head. There may have been a hint of regret in her body language, but beneath it you could see a smile, and I swear I heard her chuckle. Me? I just needed a little color, a tiny rainbow to break through the gray. We didn’t have much in the way of paint color options on board, and it wasn’t fine art by any stretch, but it made me smile.

Look at that baby-faced grin!

 

If you enjoyed this little sea story, you can read more about my time in the Navy here.

 

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