Caddy Rowland's Blog: Writer of Fiction, Painter of Life and Energy, page 12

Those Crazy Bohemians! (Place du Tertre)

As an indie author, I can  appreciate the new found freedom the Impressionists found when they started painting outside.  How nice to be able to get out of the confines of a studio and be out in the fresh air! I know that I enjoy writing outside during the months that weather permits.  There is just something about being outside that inspires me. Regardless of it the Impressionists were in a busy city setting or out in the countryside, I am certain that they found it to be insp...

Those Crazy Bohemains! (At last, painting en plein aire)

As both an indie author and a painter, I completely relate to the excitement and fear the nineteenth and twentieth century bohemian arists of Paris felt in regard to their new found freedom.  Now they could paint what they wanted, yet they were not guaranteed any income! The same is true for indie authoring/self publishing. It is a roll of the dice. But, oh, what freedom!

This freedom to paint whatever they wanted was joined with the need to paint in new ways. This was not the only freedo...

Guest Post: Author Molly Greene "Five Things I Know Are True"

Today I have the pleasure of hosting Molly Greene, who has written a contemporary fiction book that is also a mystery. She joins us to give advice for coping with the ups and downs of self publishing.  I found that her advice not only applies to the writing/publishing part of my life, but to having a happy, enjoyable life in all areas. Like Molly, I won't always succeed in following this advice, but I sure will try.


Five Things I Know Are True
by Molly Greene
Upfront disclosure: Perfec...

Those Crazy Bohemains (Why Impressionism?)

The period of Impressionism saw artists begin to paint in new and exciting ways.  For centuries artists had been painting realism, making paintings exact reproductions of the subject matter.  Strict rules had been followed and subject matter often was religious or portraits of family members of the upper class.  There was also still life and landscape.  Every painting had been done to "perfection" rendering an eternal picture of how a person or place actually looked.

What c...

Those Crazy Bohemians! (Why Montmartre?)

What made the artists of Paris leave the city and move to Montmartre in the nineteenth century? The first answer is the most common reason that artists are always on the move.

Napoleon III wanted Paris "beautified" and so he gave most of the prime land in the city to wealthy friends.  It was their responsibility to develop it. Develop it they did, and rents soared. The original inhabitants had no choice but to leave.

Montmartre was officially made part of Paris in the 1850's but the c...

Guest Post: The Challenges of Writing Techno-Political Thrillers by John Waye Falbey

Today's guest post is by an author who writes in a genre I would be clueless about.  I can only imagine the research that goes into this genre.  Historical fiction is research enough! Let's welcome John Wayne Falbey!
  The Challenges of Writing Techno-Political Thrillers
by John Wayne Falbey
There are two areas that I consider to be especially challenging in writing a current techno-political thriller. The first involves the technology part. It’s critical that the author gets...

Losing a Mother

Last week we got the news that Dave's mother had suddenly passed away.  While unexpected on one hand, we also knew that she was in her 80's and had not been talking for several weeks.  That had happened before, though, and so it was not really cause for concern.

When I found out I waited for Dave to get home from work and then told him. Plans were made to find another sitter for Gideon and we got ready to leave the next afternoon.

Dave seemed fine.  He didn't cry and he didn't se...

Historical Fiction Can Be Exciting! J. R. Tomlin Guest Post

As an indie author, I love helping other indies spread the word about their books, especially when they write in the same genre I do.  Today I am very pleased and excited to welcome  author J. R. Tomlin to my blog.  She has several books to her name and loves to write fiction with Scotland as the backdrop.

Let's hear why J. R. feels you might be selling yourself short if you think historical fiction is anything but exciting.
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Who Do You Think You Are?

When you are sitting alone or lying in bed thinking, who are you?  Or rather, who do you think you are? Do you tend to review the past several hours, finding fault either with what you did or what you didn't do?  Or do you congratulate yourself on your accomplishments, no matter how "small" they might seem to others?

In other words, are you your own worst critic or your own best friend?

How we talk to ourselves, how we truly see ourselves, manifests into reality. Unfortunately, the sw...

Becoming a Life Juggler

I know I'm not alone in the great challenge of balancing a million roles on a day to day basis.  I have blogged about it before. There is some comfort in knowing that every person who reads this faces the same issue: how to find the time to get everything done we need to get done while at the same time enjoying life.

The tasks can change.  In fact, they usually do as time passes. Students face the challenge of finding time to learn, study, work, socialize, and see their parents. ...