Sharon Ledwith's Blog, page 28
March 28, 2021
Celebrate Good Friday with Salmon Patties and a Sweet Romance Read by Catherine Castle...
Mom’s Salmon Patties1 - 15 oz. can of pink salmon2 eggs, lightly beaten½ cup finely diced onion1 cup finely diced celery¼ cup yellow cornmeal1 – 2 tbsp. vegetable oil Drain salmon, leaving bones and skin in bowl. Add eggs and veggies and mix well. Add cornmeal and mix well.
Heat oil in skillet until it shimmers. Form patties using a 2-inch diameter spoon and fry in oil until golden brown on both sides. It may take 2 batches to cook all patties and you may need to add a bit more oil as they fry. Keep patties warm in a low temperature oven while your second batch cooks.
Makes 12 patties
After you’ve enjoyed these patties settle in with Catherine’s award-winning sweet romantic comedy with a touch of drama A Groom for Mama .As Allison travels the country in search of a husband, she has a lot of dates that involve dinner. To see what she eats as she tries to find her person, check out the book on AMAZON and Barnes and Noble. Here’s a peek at the story’s blurb.
One date for every medical test—that’s the deal. Allison, however, gets more than she bargains for. She gets a Groom for Mama.Beverly Walters is dying, and before she goes she has one wish—to find a groom for her daughter. To get the deed done, Mama enlists the dating service of Jack Somerset, Allison’s former boyfriend.
The last thing corporate-climbing Allison wants is a husband. Furious with Mama’s meddling, and a bit more interested in Jack than she wants to admit, Allison agrees to the scheme as long as Mama promises to search for a cure for her terminal illness.
A cross-country trip from Nevada to Ohio ensues, with a string of disastrous dates along the way, as the trio hunts for treatment and A Groom For Mama.
Amazon Buy Link
Multi-award-winning author Catherine Castle has been writing all her life. A former freelance writer, she has over 600 articles and photographs to her credit (under her real name) in the Christian and secular market. Now she writes sweet and inspirational romance. Her debut inspirational romantic suspense, The Nun and the Narc, from Soul Mate Publishing, has garnered multiple contests finals and wins.Catherine loves writing, reading, traveling, singing, watching movies, and the theatre. In the winter she loves to quilt and has a lot of UFOs (unfinished objects) in her sewing case. In the summer her favorite place to be is in her garden. She’s passionate about gardening and even won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club.
Learn more about Catherine Castle on her website and blog . Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter . Be sure to check out Catherine’s Amazon author page and her Goodreads page . You can also find Catherine on Stitches Thru Time and the SMP authors blog site .
March 21, 2021
Book Tour, Guest Post, and Giveaway: The Demons of Square Mile by Laurence Raphael Brothers...
About The Demons of the Square Mile:
The real story behind Brexit.
Occult Private Investigator, Nora Simeon, and her uncannily handsome partner Eyre - an elemental given human form - follow a trail of magic, murder, and conspiracy from the luxurious apartment towers of Manhattan's upper east side to the ancient depths of London's Inner Temple. Along the way they encounter powerful sorcerers, magisterial barristers, evil templars, and, of course, more demons gone rogue.
With their newly acquired ward, Martha - a rat-demon - in tow, they uncover a secret so profound it could both undermine the world's financial system and topple the British government.
Visit the Tour Hosts:
https://saphsbookpromotions.blogspot.com/2021/03/tour-hosts-for-demons-of-square-mile.html
Book Information:
Publisher: Mirror World Publishing (https://www.mirrorworldpublishing.com/)Publish Date: March 17, 2021
Paperback: 114 pages
ISBN-10: 1987976770
ISBN-13: 978-1987976779
Guest Post: Alternative Futures in the Nora Simeon Novellas
By Laurence Raphael Brothers
I started writing the Nora Simeon novellas with the vague idea that they were set in something like the current day, but insensibly, as I worked my way through the first one, the book slipped gently into the future. Not the distant science-fictional future of spaceships and sentient computers, nor even the middle distance of autonomous vehicles and universal surveillance, but “the day after tomorrow”. This setting offers a totally familiar world (well, except for the sorcery and the demons and all that) but one that’s not set in stone in terms of current events.
Because one thread in these books is societal criticism (hopefully not too annoying because the first purpose is entertainment) I didn’t want Nora’s world to diverge casually or accidentally from our own. Instead I wanted its divergences to be specific and limited, so that as the reader you can assume that if you know something unstated about our world, it will apply to Nora’s as well.
It was always my plan to take Nora to the UK in the first sequel, so I had to deal with Brexit, which at the time of conceiving the story was pretty clearly going to happen, but whose details were unknown. Of course, like the vast majority of economists and observers outside Britain, I was reasonably confident it would be a disaster, but the precise scale and consequences of the disaster were unclear. The easiest approach was to confront this unknown head-on, since I thought it so wonderfully stupid and self-destructive. In the story I could come up with some reason, however fantastic, that would necessarily make more sense than the idiotic actuality.
And so a point of divergence between our world and Nora’s is that in ours Brexit was the absurdly unintended consequence of in-fighting between factions of the Conservative party, neither of whom actually wanted Brexit to take place, whereas in hers it came about due to political infighting between continental and British sorcerers. The difference there is that in Nora’s world at least the group who promoted Brexit sincerely wanted it to happen, so I suppose in that respect her world is more sensible than ours.
I’d actually completed the ms when first reports came of some new form of flu or something like that arising in China. Pretty soon it became clear that if I wanted readers to imagine Nora as living in the Manhattan of our own world, I’d have to do something. Because in the novella, people can go out to restaurants and bars and hotels and take international flights without worrying and without wearing masks, either. This time, however, I decided head-on was not the right approach, despite this being totally appropriate for other current-day and near-future stories. And so, in Nora’s world, where sorcery is used in secret to influence the profits of investment banks and mold the behavior of the global economy, it’s perfectly consistent for this generally immoral and unethical art to be used, for once, for the good of humanity, in wiping out the nascent disease before it could take hold. Because, after all, Covid is terrible for the economy....
Anyway, easy and indeed appropriate as this decision was, I worried it over for a while because it seemed a bit less than forthright to finesse this terrible disease that has killed so many people and damaged the lives of literally everyone else in the world. And moreover, no one could anymore entertain the fantasy that the story’s events might be real in our world. In the end I came to the conclusion that whatever secondary moral or even political goals these books might serve, the principal one is entertainment, and that especially in this unpleasant last year with who knows how much more unpleasantness left to come, that a fantasy with no global pandemic would be far more attractive than one without.
And so, apart from one brief mention explaining how the Covid-19 was sorcerously decapitated before it could take hold, you won’t find masks, social distancing, vaccine inequity, or the perverse, stupid, and indeed wholly evil attempts of our various political leaders to downplay or minimize the disease anywhere in The Demons of the Square Mile.
Read an Excerpt:“Simeon Investigations.”
“We have your minion,” said an inhuman voice. A demon’s for sure, unless it had been synthesized. It sounded like shards of broken glass jangling in a paper bag, but I could understand it. What I couldn’t understand was how anyone could kidnap Eyre without getting their asses handed to them. Gun or no gun.
“Who are you?”
More broken glass sounds, but no words. After a few seconds I realized it was laughter. At last the voice answered. “We would be foolish to divulge our true name. Call us Émigré.”
“What do you want?”
“We have a job for you.”
I felt a flash of red rage. My little pet fire elemental, Spark, flared up in sympathy from its urn on the windowsill, and I thought I might just burst into flame myself.
“You stupid infernal-plane motherfucker! I charge a hundred an hour. All you had to do was clear a check and I’d work for you. But now–”
“Now we have leverage, yes?”
“Let me speak to him.”
“Certainly.”
Brief silence, and then Eyre came on the line. His voice was weak. I wanted to reach through the phone and tear broken-glass-voice to pieces with my hands.
“Hey, Nora,” he said. “I’m really sorry about this. They got hold of my sigil somehow. They know what I am.”
“Eyre,” I said, “listen to me. I’m coming for you. Don’t fight them yourself.” I was thinking, Not till I get there.
“No fear of that,” he said. “It’s – you’ll have to see. They say they’ll let me go if you work for them. But I don’t think–”
Eyre’s voice cut off and broken-glass-voice resumed.
“Nora Simeon is known to us as a hunter of demons. She was contracted to hunt the demon Barbatos. She fulfilled her contract and killed the mighty demon Azriel.”
Actually, it was Eyre who had the final word against Azriel, but there was a lesson there I wanted this demon to learn.
“I’m a PI. An investigator. Barbatos was just a missing person job. But listen carefully. Azriel would have been in no danger from me, except she attacked Eyre. My partner, Eyre. I’ve got nothing against demons these days. Not unless they kidnap my friends. Do you understand me, Émigré?”
A pause. “Yes.”
I knew even as I was saying it how stupid it was. But I couldn’t help myself. I was too damn angry.
“If anything happens to Eyre, I will destroy you, too. Count on it. But if you release him right now, I might just let you live.”
A longer pause. The phone was slick and uncomfortable in my hand. Then: “Very well.”
“What?”
“Come to us. We will release your minion into your care. We – do not wish to be destroyed. We are used to negotiations in our world and – and we realize that we now exist in your own. We wish you to do a job for us. We will pay. We did not believe you would listen to us if we solicited your services without leverage.”
“Okay. Where are you?”
“We are located at...” Another pause, and I heard indistinct jangling noises away from the phone. “Yes. 87th Street and York Avenue. The red building. Apartment 18E.”
Demons on the upper east side. Why not?
“All right,” I said. “I’ll be there shortly.”
Yet more silence, like it was thinking about saying something else. Then: “Goodbye.”
I smelled something burning, turned my head to see a thin swirl of black smoke rising from around Spark’s pot. The tiny elemental had gotten so hot from my emotions during the call it had scorched the paint right off the windowsill. Fortunately it was a metal sill and frame, with nothing inflammable nearby. Spark had been growing stronger lately, more in the last few months than it had during the previous ten years since I’d summoned and bound it as my first and only successful feat of sorcery. I shook some powdered incense into the elemental’s urn as a treat, and like a dragonfly made of flame, it flew up and spiraled around my body, leaving only a faint sensation of warmth behind. Spark had already forgotten my rage of a moment before. Any other time I would have stopped to play with it, but not today.
I returned to Eyre’s desk and retrieved his pistol, a massive old Colt M1911, made sure it was loaded and safe, and dropped it into a tote bag along with his phone. My own compact Ruger went into its tailored holster. Maybe Émigré was telling the truth about letting Eyre go, but if it wasn’t, I’d have something to say.
Purchase Your Copy:Mirror World Publishing PaperbackMirror World Publishing Ebook
Amazon PaperbackAmazon Ebook
Meet the Author:
Laurence Raphael Brothers is a writer and a technologist. He has published over 25 short stories in such magazines as Nature, the New Haven Review, PodCastle, and Galaxy's Edge. His WWI-era historical fantasy novel Twilight Patrol was just released by Alban Lake. For more of his stories, visit https://laurencebrothers.com/bibliography, or follow him on twitter: @lbrothers.
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March 14, 2021
A Soothing Soup Recipe and Couple of YA Fantasy Reads by Chris Pavesic...
My sister-in-law Breen loves to cook and occasionally works her magic in my kitchen. Just the other day she prepared one of our family favorites. We thoroughly enjoy a bowl or two during winter as lunch or dinner. For me the pepitas make this dish a hit. I love scooping them out one at a time with a spoonful of soup!
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup4 lbs. butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-in. cubes2 tbsp. olive oilSalt and pepper to taste2 tbsp. unsalted butter1 onion, roughly chopped8 cups chicken broth1 tsp. dried thymePepitas (Shelled pumpkin seeds) Preheat oven to 400° F.
Place squash on baking sheets; avoid overcrowding. Toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large Dutch oven over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Add the onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Pour in the chicken broth and add thyme. Bring to a boil.
Remove the squash from the oven and add to the broth. Simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Using a regular or immersion blender, puree the soup until smooth. Serve warm. Top with pepitas if desired.
Why not read a good book while you enjoy your soup? May I suggest one of the books from my LitRPG series The Revelation Chronicles?
In Starter Zone Cami kept herself and her younger sister Alby alive in a post-apocalyptic world, facing starvation, violence, and death on a daily basis. Caught by the military and forcefully inscribed, Cami manages to scam the system and they enter the Realms, a Virtual Reality world, as privileged Players rather than slaves. They experience a world of safety, plenty, and magical adventure.
In the Traveler's Zone magic, combat, gear scores, quests, and dungeons are all puzzles to be solved as Cami continues her epic quest to navigate the Realms and build a better life for her family. But an intrusion from her old life threatens everything she has gained and imperils the entire virtual world.
Time to play the game.
Above the tree line floats an airship close to three hundred feet long with a slightly rounded wooden hull. Ropes attach the lower portion of the ship to an inflated balloon-like aspect, bright white in color with an identification symbol, a red bird with white-tipped feathers extended in flight, inside a round yellow circle in the center of the canvas. The deck is manned with archers and swordsmen. There are two sets of fore and aft catapults.
What I don’t see are cannons or any other type of a gun large enough to account for the sound of the explosion.
The ship pivots in the air, coming around to point directly at what looks like an oncoming flock of five large birds. Or creatures. They are too big and too strange looking to be birds. They drift closer, flapping their wings.
A moment passes before I realize that they are not creatures either. They are some sort of gliders. A person hangs below each set of the feathered wings, which flap and move with mechanical precision in a sky washed out by the morning sun.
The archers nock their arrows and aim at the flock.
The gliders draw in their wings and dive toward the deck, covering the distance in a few heartbeats. Most of the arrows fly uselessly past the attack force and fall like black rain from the sky. The archers aimed and released the volley too late.
The forward catapult releases a torrent of small rocks at the lead glider. It is a scatter-shot approach that proves effective. There are so many missiles that it is impossible to dodge them all.
But at the moment the stones strike, the other four let loose with fireballs. Spheres of crackling flame spring from their hands, glowing faintly at first and then with increasing brightness. The balls of fire shoot from their hands like bullets from a gun and fly toward the ship, exploding. Pieces bounce off the hull and fall to the ground, throwing hissing, burning globs of magic-fueled fire in all directions, setting everything they touch aflame.
AMAZON BUY LINKS
Traveler's Zone Starter Zone
Chris Pavesic is a fantasy author who lives in the Midwestern United States and loves Kona coffee, steampunk, fairy tales, and all types of speculative fiction. Between writing projects, Chris can most often be found reading, gaming, gardening, working on an endless list of DIY household projects, or hanging out with friends.
Learn more about Chris on her website and blog.
Stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, and her Amazon Author Page.
March 7, 2021
When It Comes To Writing, Age Doesn't Matter by Catherine Castle...
Just Ask Abraham’s Wife Sarah
I got a text from my daughter the other day. It read, “You’re kind of like Laura Ingalls Wilder. She didn’t get published until 65.” I took a bit of umbrage to that statement, and pulled a bit of pride from it as well. I’d love to be an internationally well-known writer like Laura Ingalls Wilder, who was one of my favorite authors –as well as my daughter’s favorite author, now and when she was young. I wasn’t so crazy about the 65 bit, however. I was under 65 when my first book was published, and well under 65 in how-young-you-feel-and-look years. (And isn’t that what really counts?)
However, my daughter’s statement got me to thinking about how our accomplishments aren’t limited to age. I was actually in my early 40s when I began writing professionally as a stringer for our local town newspaper. I’d always loved to write and had filled a notebook full of poems, written dozens of short stories that never made it past the Mom-thinks-it’s-wonderful stage, and composed countless school essays that always made great marks. The writing assignments that other students groaned about, I relished. I loved everything about them, from the research, to the actual writing, and even the editing—things that serve me well now as a published author.
Writing and reading have always been my passions, along with singing and acting. As a teenager I wanted to be a rock-and-roll singer or act on stage. At the time, writing never even entered my realm of careers. It was only a hobby I loved. I never made it to the limelight of center stage, in spite of the many times I tried out for school plays or musicals. I got chorus parts, but never the starring roles.
Ahh, but never give up. There’s a time and a place for everything and, for some of us, that time comes later in life. Today, I’m a published author—both as a solo author and co-authoring with my husband. I sing onstage at church, praising the Lord who gave me my voice. I’m also co-writing plays for our church (with my husband), acting and co-directing in plays for our church. Granted, it’s not Hollywood, which I have decided I wouldn’t want to be part of now anyway. Nor am I on the New York Times Bestseller list, to which I still aspire. But I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to. I’ve discovered doing what you love, at any age, is satisfying beyond belief.
Here’s the interesting thing about how everything turned out: I believe I’m right where God wants me to be, at the time of my life he wanted me to be there. After all, if he could give Sarah and Abraham a child in their old age, at just the right time to begin His plan of salvation for the world, who am I to question why my bit of success didn’t come when I was twenty?
Mine is not to wonder why, but just to do and be satisfied. So, if you’re bemoaning the fact that you haven’t “made it” yet in the publishing world, or with any other goal you’ve set for yourself, don’t. Just keep working toward that goal and relish the success, no matter how big or small, when it comes.
Catherine achieved her goal publication and also won several awards with her debut book, The Nun and the Narc. Check out the blurb and read a sample on Amazon.
Where novice Sister Margaret Mary goes, trouble follows. When she barges into a drug deal the local Mexican drug lord captures her. To escape she must depend on undercover DEA agent Jed Bond. Jed’s attitude toward her is exasperating, but when she finds herself inexplicable attracted to him he becomes more dangerous than the men who have captured them, because he is making her doubt her decision to take her final vows. Escape back to the nunnery is imperative, but life at the convent, if she can still take her final vows, will never be the same. Nuns shouldn’t look, talk, act, or kiss like Sister Margaret Mary O’Connor—at least that’s what Jed Bond thinks. She hampers his escape plans with her compulsiveness and compassion and in the process makes Jed question his own beliefs. After years of walling up his emotions in an attempt to become the best agent possible, Sister Margaret is crumbling Jed’s defenses and opening his heart. To lure her away from the church would be unforgivable—to lose her unbearable.
The Nun and the Narc is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble
Multi-award winning author Catherine Castle loves writing. Before beginning her career as a romance writer she worked part-time as a freelance writer. She has over 600 articles and photographs to her credit, under her real name, in the Christian and secular market. She also lays claim to over 300 internet articles written on a variety of subjects and several hundred poems. In addition to writing she loves reading, traveling, singing, theatre, quilting and gardening. She’s a passionate gardener whose garden won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club. She writes sweet and inspirational romances. You can find her award-winning Soul Mate books
The Nun and the Narc
and
A Groom for Mama
, on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
February 28, 2021
ROMANCE NOVELS: WHY ARE THEY SO POPULAR? by Author Anne Montgomery...
Once, after reading one of my manuscripts, my agent said, “I really like the historical part of the story. Why don’t you write it as a stand-alone romance?”
I winced. A romance novel? Me?
I have a pretty good idea about where this book is going. Don't you?
I’ll admit here that I've been a bit of a snob in regard to that particular genre, which I was surprised to discover is the number one book-selling category on the planet. Not sure why I’ve often scoffed at romance novels. Perhaps it’s the covers: the swooning women with their heaving breasts, the muscular men, all sixpacks and flowing hair. Those books just never sang to me and I never understood why other people wanted to read them.
So, in an effort to learn, I contacted some of my lovely romance-writing friends. I put on my old reporter’s cap and grilled them like a detective looking for clues, my goal to understand why anyone would want to read a romance novel.
Boy, did I learn a lot!
"Romance gives us a glimpse into another world,” said author Tina Ruiz. “Sometimes it's a world that we don't have around us. Romance novels are like fairy tales to grown up women, where the men are nice, cater to our every whim, and shelter us from everything that might make us sad or hurt.”“It’s possible the diversity of romance novels is a magnet for diverse individuals,” said romance author Nancy Kay. “From contemporary, to historical, to mystery and thrillers there are any number of themes to attract a number of tastes.”
Okay. But why are these stories tops in sales department?
"In my humble opinion it's because we live in a shattered world that is full of bad stuff and romance is the ultimate good stuff," said author Catherine Castle. "True love, loyalty, people who care about each other's happiness."
"Simple answer – escape," said author Sloane Taylor. "Escape from the husband/wife who takes you for granted. Escape from the kids demanding all your time with not even a thanks. Escape from the boss who is a major ass. Escape from the bills that keep mounting. And especially in today’s world – escape from the pandemic and it’s personal repercussions."
“The mainly happy endings in a frequently bitchy world,” Australian author Vonnie Hughes explained.Hughes went on to say that romance novels don't cost as much as other genres and they tend to be shorter, so don't require a big investment of time.
I have certainly read books that contained romance, though that part of the story was mostly secondary to the plot, so I was curious as to what exactly defines a romance novel. Of course, my first thought in our post Fifty Shades of Grey world was sex. But Ruiz pointed out that actual sex is not always the big draw.
“It is the illusion of sex that grabs our hearts,” she said. “In a lot of movies, the man and woman don't even kiss until the very last scene. That moment gets built up from the moment they meet until the end of the book or movie. It's the part we are all waiting for, so when it happens, it is absolutely wonderful.”
Still sex is often part of the format.
“Reading a book where sex is prominent is pretty awesome,” Ruiz said. “Because it gets portrayed in a different way than we have it in real life. Some men…are not perfectly, let's say, kempt, when they walk into the bedroom. The men in the books and/or movies are like a Prince Charming. Every hair is in place, his teeth shine, his eyes twinkle, and his breath is probably minty fresh.”
Another rather obvious requirement in a romance novel is that romance needs to be the most important part of the story.
“The main plot centers around individuals falling in love and struggling to make the relationship work,” Kay said. “There can be subplots as long as the love story is the main focus of the novel.”
And, there’s something else I learned. Romance novels apparently should not end on a depressing note. There must be an “emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending,” Kay said. “In a romance, the lovers who risk and struggle for each other and their relationship are rewarded with emotional justice and unconditional love.”
That sounds nice, doesn’t it? I can now see the appeal of romance novels. Perhaps it’s time I gave one a try.
How about you?
Here's a little from my suspense novel based on a true incident. It's not romance but I hope it intrigues you.
As a Vietnam veteran and former Special Forces sniper descends into the throes of mental illness, he latches onto a lonely pregnant teenager and a group of Pentecostal zealots – the Children of Light – who have been waiting over thirty years in the Arizona desert for Armageddon.
When the Amtrak Sunset Limited, a passenger train en route to Los Angeles, is derailed in their midst in a deadly act of sabotage, their lives are thrown into turmoil. As the search for the saboteurs heats up, the authorities uncover more questions than answers.
And then the girl vanishes.
While the sniper struggles to maintain his sanity, a child is about to be born deep in the wilderness.
BUY LINKS Amazon Paperback - Kindle - Midpoint Books
Anne Montgomery has worked as a television sportscaster, newspaper and magazine writer, teacher, amateur baseball umpire, and high school football referee. She worked at WRBL‐TV in Columbus, Georgia, WROC‐TV in Rochester, New York, KTSP‐TV in Phoenix, Arizona, ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut, where she anchored the Emmy and ACE award‐winning SportsCenter, and ASPN-TV as the studio host for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. Montgomery has been a freelance and staff writer for six publications, writing sports, features, movie reviews, and archeological pieces. When she can, Anne indulges in her passions: rock collecting, scuba diving, football refereeing, and playing her guitar.
Learn more about Anne Montgomery on her website and Wikipedia . Stay connected on Facebook , and Twitter .
February 21, 2021
Guest Post: A Writer's Alphabet by C.D. Hersh...
Over the years we have learned a great deal about writing and what it takes to survive in this business. Today we would like to share those ABC's with you.
Affirmation¾As writers we get a lot of rejection. It helps if we have some affirmation. So, the next time you get a good comment from a critique partner, an editor, or even your child who says “You’re a good writer, Mommy,” tuck it away in a special file. Then when you feel like chucking the computer out the window and giving up on writing, pull out those affirmations and tell yourself, “ I can do this. I am a Writer!”
Brainstorming¾Brainstorm without putting checks on your imagination. Don’t be afraid to think of the most outrageous ideas when you’re brainstorming. “What if” may be the best tool a writer has to stimulate his imagination.
Creativity¾Never let anyone say you don’t have creativity. The very fact that you want to write shows you have creativity. Just keep thinking about your story, asking “What if”, and letting all your skills and thoughts take you into the world where your characters live. Eventually, you’ll find, or create, what you need.
Discipline¾Every writer needs it; most of us do not have it. The discipline to sit down in front of the computer every day, even when you don’t feel like it, will get you through the rough parts of your stories.
Edit¾ISSAC B. SINGER said, “The wastepaper basket is the writer’s best friend.”
Think of yourself as a writer first and an editor second. Write, rewrite and rewrite some more. Never, ever, send that first draft to an editor.
Fodder¾Everything you see and hear and everyone you meet is fodder for a writer. Writers have great excuses for eavesdropping on the world. Ideas, character sketches, names, plot twists¾you name it and you can find inspiration for it among your family, friends and the guy sitting next to you in McDonalds. Don’t let them know what you’re up to, however. If they recognize themselves in your next story they may never speak again when you’re around.
Grammar¾Webster defines grammar as “a study of what is to be preferred and what is to be avoided in inflection and in syntax.” When you present your manuscript make sure the grammar is correct. Don’t depend solely on your computer grammar check; its suggestions are not always right. Instead, invest in a good English or grammar handbook and use it. The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual has a nice section on grammar and punctuation that I use all the time. If you have trouble with grammar find a friend or an adult enrichment class that can help you brush up on your grammar. You don’t have to be able to diagram a sentence, but you do have to be able to put it together correctly. That goes for punctuation too.
Hope¾Hope should spring eternal in the hearts of writers. As long as you have something circulating among editors you should always have hope. Never give up, not even when you have enough rejection letters to wallpaper your office.
Ideas¾There are no bad ideas. Even the worst idea can provide a springboard for something better. Keep all your ideas in a file so you can pull them out whenever you have a dry spell. You’ll be surprised what new, and better, ideas might spring from an idea you considered trashing.
Journaling¾Journaling is a great way to keep your writing flowing, especially on those days when you can’t, or don’t, get to the computer. Write at night, in the morning, in the bathroom, or any place where you and your journal can go. Put down your emotions, your thoughts, impressions, snatches of conversations, or visual images. All these things can be story sparkers or sensory descriptions you might be able to use in some other writing.
Know How¾Like every profession, writing is a job that takes skill. You can’t be an electrician or a plumber without learning the ropes¾the skills and the tricks of the trade. That’s true in writing too. To become a success as a writer you have to study your craft, learn the best way to write an article, a scene, a chapter, a book. You have to know how to structure your plots and characters, and you have to become knowledgeable about the business. Learn all you can about writing and the writing business so you can succeed.
Laughter¾Keep a sense of humor about yourself and your writing. There will be plenty of times that you will get your feelings hurt as a writer¾someone won’t like your baby, a critique will rub you the wrong way, an editor might ask for umpteen revisions. If you can face life, and writing, with humor you’ll be able to get through most anything¾and even have some good story material in the process.
Marketing¾If you want to sell, then know your market. Don’t waste your time, and an editor’s time, by sending manuscripts that aren’t suitable for the publication.
Networking¾Do it! Network with anyone in the writing business that you can. Editors are besieged with unsolicited manuscripts. Any time they can connect a face, organization, or conference to you, you are one step ahead of the game. Take every opportunity to meet, talk with and mingle with editors. Don’t forget networking with other writers too. You can’t know all there is to know about the publishing world and what is going on. Take advantage of any information other writers have to offer. Getting published is not always about talent. Sometimes it’s also about being in the right place, or submitting to the right place at the right time.
Organization¾If you can’t find the computer, your copious notes, or the paper and pencil under the clutter in your office, then you can’t write. The more organized you are the less time you’ll spend hunting and the more time you’ll have for writing.
Perspiration¾Don’t wait for the Muse. Writing is one-percent inspiration and 99-percent perspiration. If you wait for inspiration, you might as well be taking a nap while you’re sitting in front of you computer.
Query Letter¾Queries can be more intimidating and frustrating than writing the whole darn book. I know plenty of writers who dread the “Query Letter.” The query is an editor’s first glimpse of you and your story. Consider it an important, but necessary, evil of your craft, and learn to conquer it. The Writer’s Market has great examples of how to write a good query.
Reading¾“A room without books is like a body without a soul.” Cicero
A writer who doesn’t read will soon find himself out of touch with the very world for which he is writing. Read, read, and read everything that you can. Fiction, non-fiction, newspapers, magazines, cookbooks, cereal boxes, dictionaries, children’s literature, and certainly read in whatever genre in which you want to write.
Solitude¾The life of a writer is a solitary one. “Family, friends, and society are the natural enemies of a writer. He must be alone, uninterrupted and slightly savage if he is to sustain and complete an undertaking.” LAWRENCE CLARK POWELL Learn when, and how, to shut the door and lock out the world. Find the time and the place that works best for you.
Tenacity¾“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.”RICHARD BACH
Dr. Seuss had his first book rejected 64 times and was ready to toss it in the trash. A friend convinced him to try just one more publisher¾the rest is history. Seuss could have remained an amateur if he had given up. Don’t give up. You might miss your chance at a bestseller.
Universality¾Want to sell? Then make sure your stories and articles have a universal appeal. There is nothing new under the sun, just a different way to tell it. Stories with universal appeal never go out of style.
Virgin Reader¾Every writer needs one of these. We get so close to our “babies” that we can’t see their flaws. But, believe me, an editor will. So, find someone you trust to give you fair, constructive criticism¾someone with a fresh set of eyes to look at your writing¾and let them be a Virgin.
Write¾“Planning to write is not writing. Outlining a book is not writing. Researching is not writing. Talking to people about what you’re doing, none of that is writing. Writing is writing.” E. L. DOCTROW
‘Nuff said.
Xercise¾(Yes, I know it’s not spelled that way) Writing takes a lot of mental power but doesn’t exercise the other body muscle groups (except the fingers). So, to keep yourself healthy¾and maybe even sneak in some writer avoidance time¾take time to exercise. You’ll come back to the keyboard refreshed and awake. A bonus¾getting the endorphins revved can even kick your brain into gear and help you solve whatever writing problem you’ve been facing.
Ying and Yang—A writer needs balance, in his life and on the page. Too much time alone with the book isn’t a good thing. Neither are pages of narrative or back story with no dialogue or action. Find that happy medium in your life and your literary pursuits.
Zeal¾“Writing is a dog’s life, but the only life worth living.” GUSTAVE FLAUBERT
If a writer’s “dog’s life” isn’t what you want, then you had just as well close your notebook, break your pencil in half, and find something else to do with your life. Zeal, passion and a love of your work will keep your writing fresh and alive. If you don’t like what you are doing you probably will not succeed at it.
Please allow us to introduce you to our paranormal suspense series The Turning Stone Chronicles.
The Promised One (The Turning Stone Chronicles Book 1)
Blood Brothers (The Turning Stone Chronicles Book 2)Son of the Moonless Night (The Turning Stone Chronicles Book 3)
The Mercenary and the Shifters (The Turning Stone Chronicles Book 4)
C.D. Hersh–Two hearts creating everlasting love stories.Putting words and stories on paper is second nature to co-authors C.D. Hersh. They’ve written separately since they were teenagers and discovered their unique, collaborative abilities in the mid-90s. As high school sweethearts and husband and wife, Catherine and Donald believe in true love and happily ever after.
They have a short Christmas story, Kissing Santa, in a Christmas anthology titled Sizzle in the Snow: Soul Mate Christmas Collection , with seven other authors.
They are looking forward to many years of co-authoring and book sales, and a lifetime of happily-ever-after endings on the page and in real life.
Social Media Info:WebsiteSoul Mate PublishingFacebookAmazon Author PageTwitterGoodreads
February 16, 2021
Cover Reveal: The Demons of the Square Mile by Laurence Raphael Brothers...
About The Demons of the Square Mile:
The real story behind Brexit
Occult Private Investigator, Nora Simeon, and her uncannily handsome partner Eyre - an elemental given human form - follow a trail of magic, murder, and conspiracy from the luxurious apartment towers of Manhattan's upper east side to the ancient depths of London's Inner Temple. Along the way they encounter powerful sorcerers, magisterial barristers, evil templars, and, of course, more demons gone rogue.
With their newly acquired ward, Martha - a rat-demon - in tow, they uncover a secret so profound it could both undermine the world's financial system and topple the British government.
Book Information:
Publisher: Mirror World Publishing (https://www.mirrorworldpublishing.com/)Publish Date: March 17, 2021
Paperback: 114 pages
ISBN-10: 1987976770
ISBN-13: 978-1987976779
Visit the Tour Hosts:
https://saphsbooks.blogspot.com/2021/02/cover-reveal-tour-hosts-demons-of.html
Pre-Order:
Mirror World Publishing PaperbackMirror World Publishing Ebook
Amazon PaperbackAmazon Ebook
Meet the Author:
Laurence Raphael Brothers is a writer and a technologist. He has published over 25 short stories in such magazines as Nature, the New Haven Review, PodCastle, and Galaxy's Edge. His WWI-era historical fantasy novel Twilight Patrol was just released by Alban Lake. For more of his stories, visit https://laurencebrothers.com/bibliography, or follow him on twitter: @lbrothers.
February 14, 2021
Celebrate Family Day with a Slice of Pizza Extraordinaire and a Visit to Mysterious Fairy Falls...
Ready for some comfort food? I bet you are! So, let’s go with a fan favorite – PIZZA! Not just any pizza, but one so extraordinaire you’ll toss all those take-out menus and never order in again. The sauce is superb and flavorful, and is worth adding the numerous ingredients. This pizza is perfect for game night and gatherings on those cool or damp days at your vacation or stay-cation home. Now that’s Amore!
SAUCE 1 – 6 oz. can tomato paste 6 oz. warm water (110° F/45° C) 3 tbsp. Parmesan cheese, grated 1 tsp. garlic, minced 2 tbsp. honey 1 tsp. anchovy paste ¾ tsp. onion powder ¼ tsp. dried oregano ¼ tsp. dried marjoram ¼ tsp. dried basil ¼ tsp. ground black pepper ⅛ tsp. cayenne pepper ⅛ tsp. dried red pepper flakes Salt to taste Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Stir well, breaking up any cheese clumps.
Allow the sauce to sit for 30 minutes to blend flavors. Spread sauce evenly over the dough. Add any of toppings you like.
CRUST
2¼ tsp. active dry yeast ½ tsp. brown sugar 1½ cups warm water (110° F/45° C) 1 tsp. salt 2 tbsp. olive oil 3⅓ cups all-purpose flour Vegetable or olive oilUse a large bowl to dissolve yeast and brown sugar in the water. Let sit for 10 minutes.
Stir salt and oil into the yeast solution. Mix in 2½ cups of flour.
Turn dough out onto clean, well-floured surface, and knead in more flour until the dough is no longer sticky. You may or may not use all of the remaining 1⅓ cups of flour.
Place dough into a well-oiled bowl and then cover with a cloth. Let dough rise until double, approximately 1 hour. Punch down dough and then form it into a tight ball. Allow the dough to relax for a minute before rolling out.
Preheat oven to 425° (220° C).
If you are baking the dough on a pizza stone, you may spread the sauce and add your favorite toppings on the dough, and bake immediately. If you are baking your pizza in a pan, lightly oil the pan, and let the dough rise for 15 or 20 minutes before topping and baking it.
Bake pizza until cheese and crust are golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes.
While you’re enjoying your slice of mouth-watering, made-to-order pizza why not put your feet up and relax on the couch with a good book? May I suggest a visit to Fairy Falls, or if you’re feeling really adventurous, a trip back in time with The Last Timekeepers? Whichever you choose, I assure you that either series will take you on a journey far away from the chaos and problems of your world.
The only witness left to testify against an unsolved crime in Fairy Falls isn’t a person…City born and bred, Hart Stewart possesses the gift of psychometry—the psychic ability to discover facts about an event or person by touching inanimate objects associated with them. Since his mother’s death, seventeen-year-old Hart has endured homelessness, and has learned ways to keep his illiteracy under wraps. He eventually learns of a great-aunt living in Fairy Falls, and decides to leave the only life he’s ever known for an uncertain future.
Diana MacGregor lives in Fairy Falls. Her mother was a victim of a senseless murder. Only Diana’s unanswered questions and her grief keeps her going, until Hart finds her mother’s lost ring and becomes a witness to her murder.
Through Hart’s psychic power, Diana gains hope for justice. Their investigation leads them into the corrupt world threatening Fairy Falls. To secure the town’s future, Hart and Diana must join forces to uncover the shocking truth, or they risk losing the true essence of Fairy Falls forever.
AMAZON BUY LINK
Sharon Ledwith is the author of the middle-grade/YA time travel series, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS, and the teen psychic mystery series, MYSTERIOUS TALES FROM FAIRY FALLS. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading, exercising, anything arcane, and an occasional dram of scotch. Sharon lives a serene, yet busy life in a southern tourist region of Ontario, Canada, with her hubby, one spoiled yellow Labrador and a moody calico cat.
Learn more about Sharon Ledwith on her website and blog . Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter , Google+ , Goodreads , and Smashwords . Look up her Amazon Author page for a list of current books. Be sure to check out THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS TIME TRAVEL SERIES Facebook page.
February 7, 2021
Guest Post: One Step Nearer the Epilogue by Author Carol Browne...
Photo by Gaelle Marcel on UnsplashThe metaphor that likens life to a book is a common one. Viewing our progress through existence as a series of chapters appeals to our need to put things in boxes and compartments. Each chapter can be titled after a significant event or rite of passage: infancy; puberty; marriage; first job; and so on. There is no set number of chapters and each one may have different themes and moods. The length of each chapter is as variable as the length of the entire book; it is, however, generally assumed that a valuable lesson or learning experience should be included in the narrative. The latest chapter in my own book of life is the one headed ‘Retirement’. I have longed to reach this chapter but I am fully aware of the potential dangers that lie within its pages. For many, retirement is the end of usefulness when we become a drain on society and not a contributor anymore. It can make us feel less important and rob us of our self-respect and purpose. We tell ourselves that we have nothing to look forward to but an eventual decline into infirmity. But, as with all previous chapters, we have a choice in how we approach this new status. It’s all a question of attitude.
We can embrace our new freedom because we have earned it, and we don’t have to let ourselves go or stop learning. We can still work if we want to, but now we can choose what work we do, and when. Retirement doesn’t have to mean bingo and chamber music, complaining about the younger generation, or behaving with dignity at all times. The contribution of the elders to society should be enormous because finally we have the time and financial freedom we need to change the world. It’s not just by doing voluntary work or becoming politically active. We are now more useful than ever before because we have a lifetime of knowledge and experience and we can use that to guide those who are still struggling through earlier chapters. I would encourage all my fellow oldsters to reject the idea that they are on the scrapheap, because the fun is only just beginning.
I’m hoping ‘the undiscover’d country’ is some way off for me yet, but when they come to write my epilogue I hope it will show me in a favourable light. I hope it will include my successes as well as my failures. I would like to think I had made a difference to the world and left it in a better condition than I found it, even if it’s in a small way. I have plans for this particular learning experience and trust that the epilogue will celebrate my success. Most importantly of all, once my book is finished, I hope those I leave behind me will give it a five-star review.
Just to prove to you sitting in a rocker all day is not in my future, here's a peek at my latest epic fantasy. I hope you enjoy it.
His adventures in Elvendom left Godwin a changed man, and now bereavement has darkened his world.In another dimension, a new Elvendom is threatened by the ambitions of a monstrous enemy. But who - or what - is the Dark Lady of Bletchberm?
And what has become of Elgiva?
Reeling from the loss of their Elwardain, the elves ask Godwin for help.
Transported into a strange world of time travel and outlandish creatures, will he succeed in his quest against impossible odds, or will the Dark Lady destroy everything the Elwardain fought to preserve?
EXCERPT
His heart thumping in his throat, Godwin took in all the details of the goblin’s appearance. The creature was probably four feet tall at most and was wearing a sleeveless leather tunic and short leggings over his skinny frame. His arms and legs were hard with thin bands of muscle; sinews moved like taut wires beneath the scant flesh. Godwin fancied that the goblin’s skin had a sickly, greenish tint, but in the firelight it was impossible to be sure.
The goblin moved in an awkward manner, not upright like a man or an elf, but slightly stooped and with bent knees, as though on the verge of pouncing. The dome of his head was as bald and smooth as a pebble, and his very long, pointed ears were attached on either side like those of a lynx. His large eyes glittered like wet malachite and between them a long, sharp nose protruded with all the aesthetic attributes of a small parsnip.
The goblin’s large eyes widened as they swivelled in Godwin’s direction, making his stomach curdle in fear and revulsion.
“Only two of you, then?” said the goblin with a smirk. “Not much of a challenge, is it?” He beckoned with his sword and others of his kind began to creep into the circle.
Godwin glanced around. There were six more of them, each carrying a sword of a curious design, the blade like a thin, metal spiral with a very sharp point. A visceral fear welled up inside him at the sight of these weapons, but he didn’t know why.
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Born in Stafford in the UK, Carol Browne was raised in Crewe, Cheshire, which she thinks of as her home town. Interested in reading and writing at an early age, Carol pursued her passions at Nottingham University and was awarded an honours degree in English Language and Literature. Now living and working in the Cambridgeshire countryside, Carol usually writes fiction but has also taken a plunge into non-fiction with Being Krystyna. This story of a Holocaust survivor has been well received.Stay connected with Carol on her website and blog , Facebook , and Twitter .
January 31, 2021
Reflections and Rejoices in my Amazing Author Life…
I usually celebrate February (my birthday month) by setting up a giveaway contest via Goodreads or Rafflecopter, and engage my readers and followers to enter. On occasion, I’ve hired a promotional specialist to host a virtual tour for the week of my birthday. However, this year is different. This year (2021), I turn the big 6-0. Whoa. Just thinking about it makes my head spin. Looking at the big picture, sixty is a milestone in my life, as well as in my crazy writing career. In the last ten years, I’ve had the opportunity to publish five books with a small press publisher, and launched two young adult book series. Woohoo!
Another milestone to be celebrated this year is the tenth anniversary of this blog, Sharon Ledwith: I came. I saw. I wrote., happening in May. I feel a sense of accomplishment and gratitude, yet at the same time a smidgen of discontent has wiggled its way into my fragile psyche. Perhaps it’s the continuance of the Covid-19 pandemic and remnants of the political upheaval we’ve all experienced. Or maybe it’s that I’ve noticed the publishing landscape has changed so much since I landed my first contract in 2011. I honestly don’t recognize the publishing paradigm anymore, and I’m sure many authors would agree with me. In hindsight, I guess I shouldn’t take myself so seriously. Instead, I think I’ll learn to be more flexible and just go with the flow in these ever changing times.
That said, here’s a snippet from Dan Millman’s book, The Life You Were Born To Live which offers some sage advice on the Law of Flexibility: “Flexibility requires an alert and expansive state of awareness; it entails not just ‘going with the flow’, but embracing and making constructive use of it. Mastering this law, we turn stumbling blocks into stepping-stones and problems into opportunities; when high winds blow, we don’t just ‘accept’ or tolerate these winds, we put up windmills.”
I’ve decided to put up some windmills and celebrate my milestone birthday with a Rafflecopter giveaway and a $3 off sale on ALL my books at Mirror World Publishing’s online store. I’ll be giving away two signed copies of the first books in my two young adult series: The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, and Lost and Found, Book #1; Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls. To make it easier for you, I’ve listed the buy links for all my books with Mirror World Publishing below.
So, in grand fashion, let’s get this birthday party started! Don’t forget to apply the code HAPPYBIRTHDAY to get $3 off any of my books or ebooks before you make your purchase.
The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis:
Ebook: http://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/products/the-last-timekeepers-and-the-arch-of-atlantis
The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret, Book 2:
Legend of the Timekeepers, prequel:
Lost and Found, Book #1; Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls:
Paperback: https://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/collections/poetry/products/lost-and-found-paperback
Ebook: https://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/collections/poetry/products/lost-and-found-ebook
Blackflies and Blueberries, Book #2; Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls:
Not sure what to read first? Here’s a glimpse of the premises of both my young adult series:
Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls Teen Psychic Mysteries…
Imagine a teenager possessing a psychic ability and struggling to cope with this freakish power. There’s no hope for a normal life, and no one who understands. Now, imagine being uprooted and forced to live in a small tourist town where nothing much ever happens. It’s bores-ville from the get-go.
Welcome to Fairy Falls. Expect the unexpected.
The Last Timekeepers Time Travel Adventures…
Chosen by an Atlantean Magus to be Timekeepers—legendary time travelers sworn to keep history safe from the evil Belial—five classmates are sent into the past to restore balance, and bring order back into the world, one mission at a time.
Children are the keys to our future. And now, children are the only hope for our past.
