Gwen Gardner's Blog, page 6

#IWSG: Always Cozy

Geez, it's August already? I'm shaking my head over how fast time is flying in 2020. When I think back I'm going to wonder if it really ever even happened.
ALSO, it's the first Wednesday of the month, which means it's time for an Insecure Writer's Support Group meet-up. If you'd like to join, go HERE. 
Thanks to our host Alex Cavanaugh, and the awesome co-hosts for the August 5 posting of the IWSG:  Susan Baury Rouchard, Nancy Gideon, Jennifer Lane, Jennifer Hawes, Chemist Ken, and Chrys Fey!
This month's optional question is:
Quote: "Although I have written a short story collection, the form found me and not the other way around. Don't write short stories, novels or poems. Just write your truth and your stories will mold into the shapes they need to be."
Have you ever written a piece that became a form, or even a genre, you hadn't planned on writing in? Or do you choose a form/genre in advance?
Almost from the very beginning, before I even knew what I was writing, before I knew enough to pick a genre, I wrote cozy mysteries. I've tried writing other genres but it doesn't turn out well. I'm a fixer. I spend my life trying to make sure everyone is okay and trying to make things right. 
So to write worlds where my characters are in extreme danger, and to make bad things happen to them, or to kill them off (when blood is no double involved *shivers*) goes so hard against the grain that...I can't do it. 
Nope, nope, nope. 
My books feature ghosts, so the victims are already dead.I don't have to kill them. See how I got around that whole violence thing? LOL. 

What about you?  Do you swap genres?

IWSG: AWOL

Today is Insecure Writer's Support Group Day! And I'm AWOL!Sorry I have to miss it. If you'd like to sign up, go HERE.

Stay safe and I'll see you next month!

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IWSG: What's in a Name?

It's Insecure Writer's Support Group Day! If you'd like to join, go HERE. 
Thanks to our host, Alex Cavanaugh, and our awesome co-hosts for this posting of the IWSG, Pat Garcia, J.Q. Rose, and Natalie Aguirre!

Optional question:  Writers have secrets! What are one or two of yours, something readers would never know from your work?
My readers may not know how I came up with my protagonist's name, Indigo Eady. She was based on several concepts: My grandmother spent a lot of time raising my sister and I when we were growing up, so I wanted to honor her in my writing. That's why I gave my character my grandmother's maiden name, "Eady", along with her black hair and blue eyes.  In my research for character names, I came across the concept of Indigo Children (also Crystal Children and Starseed Children) where it is thought that children born in recent years (since the 1970s) are arriving at a higher vibrational level. These individuals are highly intuitive and have exceptional qualities to include a strong desire to make a more fair and just world to live in. They stand up for what they believe and want to live a life of meaning. They exist to bring the world into a new state of consciousness. Because of their ideals, they won't back down, and so may find themselves toe to toe with the law.This is how my Indigo Eady character was created. She speaks to ghosts and has strong psychic tendencies. She investigates murder on behalf of the ghosts she meets who need her help. Her methods may find her breaking and entering, but all in the name of justice. 
What secrets would your readers be surprised 
to find out about your writing?   

IWSG: No Post Today

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today. I won't be participating in the Insecure Writers Support Group blog hop event this month. No worries. Just a lot going on. 

For those who want to participate, you can sign up HERE. 

I will see you next month!

IWSG: California is Closed

No kidding around, it's April 1st, and time for our monthly Insecure Writer's Support Group post, which occurs on the first Wednesday of every month. Please join us HERE. 

Thank you to our host, Alex Cavanaugh, and this month's co-hosts for making this monthly event work flawlessly: Diane Burton, JH Moncrieff, Anna @ Emaginette, Karen @ Reprobate Typewriter, Erika Beebe, and Lisa Buie-Collard!

This month's optional question is: 

The IWSG’s focus is on our writers. Each month, from all over the globe, we are a united group sharing our insecurities, our troubles, and our pain. So, in this time when our world is in crisis with the covid-19 pandemic, our optional question this month is: how are things in your world?

The governor of California issued a stay-at-home order on Thursday, March 19th. The next day I went to work to close things down, issued a blanket mass email to customers, and recorded a new voicemail to indicate we were closed for the foreseeable future. 
That lasted about a day, until we discovered construction was exempt from that order. We regrouped, issued new health and safety guidelines, and got back to work. I'm feeling very blessed and grateful that I can still bring in a paycheck. 
I work remotely from home and go into the office once per week for items such as banking and payroll. But I have to say, when I'm at work, people still come into the office even though I tell them we're closed. There are those who are not taking social distancing as seriously as they should. It's worrisome. 
Shortages of certain foods and cleaning supplies is the norm, but in no way are we hungry. We eat some things we don't normally eat (I found some Vienna sausages--yum!). We're more appreciative of things we used to take for granted--the hubs found some gallon containers of water and some butter and flour (score!). Now if I could only find some yeast, LOL. I looked up yeast making on YouTube, but it requires a bit of coddling, which I will do if it comes down to it. 
I love on my dog more, and tell him how special he is (#TuffyGardner is nearly 15 years old and struggling a bit), which makes my hubs jealous.

IWSG: No Poop Talk Here

It's the first Wednesday of the month and time for another Insecure Writer's Support Group post. 
About our group: We are writers of all levels of experience and genres, published and unpublished, who support and encourage each other on our writing journeys. If you'd like to join, go HERE. 
Thanks so much to our host Alex Cavanaugh and our awesome co-hosts this month:  Jacqui Murray, Lisa Buie-Collard, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and Shannon Lawrence!
Here is the optional question for March: Other than the obvious holiday traditions, have you ever included any personal or family traditions/customs in your stories?
My short answer is no. My family is scattered to the far corners of the earth and other than immediate family, we don't see each other much. So no real traditions exist--except poop talk at the table. But let's not go into that. It certainly never made it into any of my books. LoL. 
What I have included in my Indigo Eady Cozy Mystery series is that I've given my main character my grandmother's maiden name (Eady), along with her looks--black hair and blue eyes. A combination that I've always loved and wish I possessed. You can check out my further train of thought on the spooky/funny aspect over at the Untethered Realms Blog. 
Do your stories ever include real life  traditions or customs from your own family?
Or have you included family names  or characteristics in your writing? 

#IWSG Still Writing!

It's Insecure Writer's Support Group day! This monthly event occurs on the first Wednesday of every month. As writers of every genre and level of experience, we post about our writing insecurities and offer support to our fellow writers. If you'd like to join, go HERE. 

I'm unable to participate this month due to other obligations, but thank you so much for stopping by!

Be sure to stop by our host Alex Cavanaugh's blog, as well as this month's co-hosts:  Lee Lowery, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Jennifer Hawes, Cathrina Constantine, and Tyrean Martinson!


STILL WRITING!
SEE YOU NEXT MONTH!

#IWSG : #Writing and The Ticking Time Clock

It's the first post of the year for the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Our #WritingCommunity consists of writers of every genre, and all levels of experience. Everyone is welcome. If you'd like to join, go HERE. 
Many thanks to our founder and host, Alex Cavanaugh, and our awesome co-hosts for this month: T. Powell Coltrin, Victoria Marie Lees, Stephen Tremp, Renee Scattergood, and J.H. Moncrieff!
If you can't think about what to write, here is this month's optional question:
What started you on your writing journey? Was it a particular book, movie, story, or series? Was it a teacher/coach/spouse/friend/parent? Did you just "know" suddenly you wanted to write?

ANSWER:
Like most writers, my journey started with a love of reading. The discovery of the school library somewhere around third grade (late to be introduced to books, in my opinion) is when it all started for me. The whole class tromped down to the library together. This was around the time when writing book reports became part of the curriculum. Most kids grumbled about it, but I secretly loved it. 
It never occurred to me that I could be a writer until later in life. Education or book learning wasn't a high priority growing up. I knew that "IF" I graduated from high school, I was going to work. College didn't appear on my very short list of options.  
Long story short, I did go to college as an older adult (encouraged by my very supportive hubby) and earned a BA in English Literature. I got to read a lot! And write a lot!  I started questioning what I could do with my life. Up until this time, I worked and went to school and took care of my family. 
But what did I want? 
The answer was writing. Even so, it took me a long while to follow through--because life, and fear, and doubt.... 
And eventually...
There is a sell-by date on our lives that we don't tend to notice until middle age. The thought that time might run out before accomplishing something in life.

And so I decided to start writing. Better late than never. 
The ticking time clock spurred me on.  
What about you? 
Were you spurred on by a ticking clock? 
Or had you always known you wanted to be a writer? 

IWSG: Write. Travel. Garden. Repeat.

It's Insecure Writer's Support Group Day. If you are a writer in need of support and encouragement, or a writer who has wisdom to share, please join us HERE. 
Many thanks to our host Alex Cavanaugh and this month's awesome co-hosts : Tonja Drecker, Beverly Stowe McClure, Nicki Elson, Fundy Blue, and Tyrean Martinson!

Wow. Here we are at the last post of the year already! This year flew by. 
Here is this month's optional question:
Q: Let's play a game. Imagine. Role-play. How would you describe your future writer self, your life and what it looks and feels like if you were living the dream? Or if you are already there, what does it look and feel like? Tell the rest of us. What would you change or improve?

A: This is a timely question, because I'm two years away from retirement and I think about it all the time. I have hopes and dreams--and a lot of doubt and fears. I know what I want it to be like, but the universe has ways of throwing a plot twist at you when you're least expecting it.  
First, travel: six months in Shrewsbury, England. It's where my fictional town of Sabrina Shores is based in my Indigo Eady series. I've also decided to set my new Brother Bart series there. It's rich with history and a perfect setting for a ghost monk to reside. 
Next we'll be motor-homing it around the States for a year or two. I'm envisioning writing at the beach, or next to a mountain lake. Water is very soothing. 
And finally, putting down roots. Hopefully in a place that we fell in love with on our travels. Ideally, it will be near water. It must have beautiful fall weather, and a little plot of dirt for gardening. And of course a garden to write in!
Above all, whatever I'm doing, it involves writing. Every day. I want readers to love my books and stories. And of course financial success would mean that I could maintain this simple but lovely lifestyle. Write. Travel. Garden. Repeat.  
What does your writing dream look like? 

IWSG: Google Gaffes

Thank goodness for the IWSG, otherwise I'd be out of the blogging gig altogether. It allows me to stay in touch with other writers, which soothes my soul. The sense of community is amazing and I'm so thankful for it. Heh, this wasn't meant to be a Thanksgiving post, but there you are. 

Anyhoo, if you're a writer and/or author and would like to join this supportive group of like-minded folks, please go HERE. 



Thanks a million to our founding host Alex Cavanaugh and this month's awesome co-hosts: Sadira Stone, Patricia Josephine, Lisa Buie-Collard, Erika Beebe, and C. Lee McKenzie! Please stop by their blogs and say hey. 
This month's optional question is: What's the strangest thing you've ever googled in researching a story?
Kind of a funny story. I don't know how many people know this, but I'm an American who writes in "English". In other words, my main character is American/English and lives in England. We speak the same language, but some things just don't translate. I have a British editor, so it helps when she catches stuff and calls me out on it. 

I recently published my short story, Lady Sings the Boos, a cozy paranormal mystery. I love my ghosties and they keep me so entertained by the things they say! Like when one of the ghosts speaks Pig Latin to Indigo at the Blue Note jazz club:

“Eddie don’t talk to the living. e’ says you lot can’t be trusted.” He shoved his bulbous nose close to my face, and ghost spittle sprayed my cheeks. “Now amscray before Eddie gets angry,” he said, blowing smoke in my face.

Stunned for a moment, I stood in a backward-leaning position, like an ancient headstone right before it topples over. I stepped back and waved away the smoke. Ghost-dude could use lessons from Miss Manners. And had he seriously just spoken Pig Latin to me? So last century.

Oopsie! Who knew that the Brits don't do Pig Latin? It seems that they might've heard of it (through American film), but it's not really a thing there. I googled it after the fact, but I hadn't thought about googling it beforehand. Even so, I didn't find much info about origin and whether the British ever used it. 
So I had to remove a couple of scenes, like the one above, that really tickled my funny bone. (FYI, for you Brits out there, amscray means scram in Pig Latin, a made up language.)
What about you? What's the strangest
 or funniest thing  you've ever 
googled  in the name of research?