Staci Troilo's Blog, page 66

Labor Day & 10 Steps of Novel Writing and Marketing (Infographic)

Well, it’s Labor Day here in the US. It’s the day we set aside to honor our workforce. According to the Department of Labor, “it constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.”

I know we’re all looking forward to the three day weekend, but I can’t help but think of people like my grandfather, my dad, and my husband.

My grandfather started working at the age of fourteen because his father died and someone had to support my great-grandmother and her children. The oldest of seven, my grandfather quit school and got a job at the foundry to care for his family. When he married my grandmother, he continued financial support until his other siblings were able to pitch in.

My father was the third of seven. His older two brothers went to college, but there wasn’t money to send him when it was his turn. Instead, he joined the US Navy and sent money home to help his parents and siblings. When he returned home, he got a job as a driver for UPS. He worked tirelessly until he earned a managerial position, and then I think he worked even harder. I remember late nights, early mornings, and very long days. But he never complained; he just kept on working for his family.

My husband got his BS in Industrial Management and Economics the year before I graduated. He worked as a stock broker and then an equities trader, and I expected we’d be a two-income family for the remainder of our marriage. But instead, he left the industry in favor of a management job in manufacturing. Since then, we’ve moved a lot (leaving family is SO HARD), but we’re now a single-income household. He takes care of me and the kids and has become a Lean Manufacturing expert. His companies send him to other plants to teach and implement efficient manufacturing systems. Through all that, he managed to get his master’s degree, too. He works crazy long hours, travels far from home sometimes, and when he is home his phone never stops. I can’t imagine a better provider.

So people can think of labor unions and blue collar workers all they want on Labor Day. Or of parades and picnics. I think of these three men and the contributions they made to the country and to my life.

As for me, I’m a writer, so I thought what better way to mark Labor Day than with an infographic about novel writing. (Yes, I did the work and created it myself.) Here are ten steps (ten very general steps) detailing how to write and market a novel.

PLEASE NOTE: This infographic only deals with marketing your novel. But remember that your online presence should be no more than 10% selling/marketing. That means that you need to consider how much online marketing you’re doing throughout the process and interact with your audience in HELPFUL and ENGAGING ways the other 90% (or more) of the time. (click to tweet this idea)

I hope all US citizens have a great Labor Day. To everyone else, Happy Monday!

What do you think of this infographic? Did I forget anything important? Did you ever create an infographic for something? Let’s talk about it.

And, before I forget, I’ll be releasing my new brand soon. I expect to reveal it this week, so keep an eye out for that. And of course, Friday is the first Friday of the month, so I’ll be releasing the next #FFFF Laci and Del installment. Wow! What a busy week! Hope you have a good one, and I’ll be seeing you soon.

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Book Spotlight: Deception, Book One of The Transformed Series by Stacy Claflin

I thought I’d mix things up a little bit, and talk about books this month.

Sure, you can go online and find hundreds of reviews for books by Stephen King, Nora Roberts, James Patterson… If an author is already a NYTBSA, he or she hardly needs a book review from me.

But what about the “little people” that New York has forgotten?

I’m taking books that I like from different genres this month and spotlighting them here.

Hopefully you’re looking for a book in one of these genres, and you’ll give my recommendation a try.

This week’s genre: Young Adult

Sub-genre: Paranormal Romance

Deception by Stacy Claflin is a story of a young girl’s transformation from “normal girl” (which she never was) to vampire royalty, and all the trials she faces as she embraces her new role with her people. Along the way, she finds love, family, danger, and deception.

Deception takes place in contemporary Delphic Cove, a small town in the state of Washington, where the girl Alexis grew up. But Marguerite, the vampire and the sonnast, was born in a castle. Time is spent there, as well as in the woods and in another vampire’s castle too. Readers are really given a sense of who the girl was and who the sonnast is, in part because of the locales Claflin creates.

Deception is an entertaining novel for teens and adults alike. This isn’t just another vampire novel. Claflin creates an interesting world and a compelling mythology never before seen in literature. The characters are easy to relate to, the plot is well-conceived, the pacing is strong, and the rules for the storyworld are new and first rate. I give this book 5 stars, and I’m certain if you give it a chance, you will too.

If you’re looking for a fantasy with romance, intrigue, and action, you’ve found the story. Heck, you’ve found the series you should be reading. Deception, Book One of the Transformed Series by Stacy Claflin is your ticket to an exciting new world.

Stacy lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, their two sons, and their dog. She’s a homeschooler and owner of a daycare, and loves spending time with family and friends. But every spare moment she has is spent writing short stories or novels for one of her three series. Check out the vampire saga (The Transformed Series), the ghost series (The Mercy Series), and soon, her first foray into non-paranormal fiction, Gone (part one of a YA suspense/thriller series).

Connect with Stacy at her website.

Find Deception and all Stacy’s work on Amazon.

 

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Book Spotlight: Finding Eliza by Stephanie Pitcher Fishman

I thought I’d mix things up a little bit, and talk about books this month.

Sure, you can go online and find hundreds of reviews for books by Stephen King, Nora Roberts, James Patterson… If an author is already a NYTBSA, he or she hardly needs a book review from me.

But what about the “little people” that New York has forgotten?

I’m taking books that I like from different genres this month and spotlighting them here.

Hopefully you’re looking for a book in one of these genres, and you’ll give my recommendation a try.

This week’s genre: mainstream literature

Sub-genre: historical

Finding Eliza by Stephanie Pitcher Fishman is a story of a woman’s quest to understand her family and to come to terms with a painful loss. At her grandmother’s behest, she attends a “genealogy party” only to discover there is so much more to her history than she ever thought.

Finding Eliza takes place in contemporary Georgia, but there are several flashbacks to the 1930s which accurately and poignantly depict the tribulations many faced in the pre-desegregation south. The author seamlessly traverses between the contemporary angst felt by her main character and the desperation felt by her ancestors.

Finding Eliza is an engaging and compelling novel. The plot is well-conceived and the characters are entertaining and memorable. In addition, the settings are so beautifully constructed, you can see the landscapes and taste the lemon squares. I’m giving this book 5 stars and know you will do the same.

In the interest of full disclosure, I must mention that I assisted the author with editing this novel, but my involvement in no way impacted my opinions of the book. If you’re looking for a getaway to Georgia and want to read a story that is so emotionally engaging that you’ll both laugh and cry as you turn the pages, look no further than Finding Eliza by Stephanie Pitcher Fishman.

Stephanie is professional genealogist specializing in Midwestern and Southeastern United States family history. She’s written seven family history research guides as well as several articles and blog posts for genealogy websites, and she also speaks on the topic.

Connect with Stephanie at her website.

Find Finding Eliza on Amazon.

 

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Book Spotlight: Answering Annaveta by Lorna Faith

I thought I’d mix things up a little bit, and talk about books this month.

Sure, you can go online and find hundreds of reviews for books by Stephen King, Nora Roberts, James Patterson… If an author is already a NYTBSA, he or she hardly needs a book review from me.

But what about the “little people” that New York has forgotten?

I’m taking books that I like from different genres this month and spotlighting them here.

Hopefully you’re looking for a book in one of these genres, and you’ll give my recommendation a try.

This week’s genre: historical literature

Sub-genre: romantic suspense (contains Christian themes)

Answering Annaveta by Lorna Faith is book one of a trilogy that begins in 1913 Russia. The story follows young Annaveta and her journey to adulthood. She encounters great hardships, devastating heartbreak, and dangers few of us can comprehend. But she also discovers boundless compassion and unwavering love.

This book is an excellent combination of historical facts and character development. It shows the ups and downs of family life, the positives and negatives of living in pre-World War I Russia, and the best and the worst elements of society.  

The plot has steady pacing and engaging characters held together by gorgeous language and a compelling story. I happily give this book 5 stars and look forward to the sequel.

If you’re looking for a romantic suspense novel with a historical setting, look no further than Answering Annaveta by Lorna Faith.

Lorna is the youngest of eleven children who grew up in Canada. Her father, also of a large family, was a Volga German immigrant from Russia. It was his stories of life in Russia and the immigration process that inspired her work.

Connect with Lorna at her website.

Find Answering Annaveta on Amazon.

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Book Spotlight: The Princess and Her Dress by Arthur Grimm

I thought I’d mix things up a little bit, and talk about books this month.

Sure, you can go online and find hundreds of reviews for books by Stephen King, Nora Roberts, James Patterson… If an author is already a NYTBSA, he or she hardly needs a book review from me.

But what about the “little people” that New York has forgotten?

This month, I’m taking books that I like from different genres and spotlighting them here.

Hopefully you’re looking for a book in one of these genres, and you’ll give my recommendation a try.

This week’s genre: Children’s Literature

Sub-genre: Christian Fiction

The Princess and Her Dress by Arthur Grimm is a children’s book written in the classic fairy tale style. There are castles, kings, a princess in peril, a prince coming to her rescue, a moral learned, and a happily ever after ending. All of the major elements were met for a successful fairy tale, and it was a fresh story (if you’re looking for a change from the traditional stories from our youth).

Where Grimm differs in his approach is in incorporating a Christian element. This book not only will entertain young children, it has a positive and faith-affirming message woven seamlessly into the plot. Often secular stories lead children away from God’s message; this one reinforces it.

The plot has good pacing and the writing is sound. Even the illustrations have a classic feel to them and meld effortlessly with the text. I have no reservations in giving this book 5 stars.

If you’re looking for a Christian-themed fairy tale for a child in your life, look no further than The Princess and Her Dress by Arthur Grimm.

Arthur Grimm is a salesperson by day and a writer by night, and he’s always a devoted husband and father. You can learn more about him and his work by visiting his website.

Find The Princess and Her Dress on Amazon.

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Laci and Del: Birthday Wishes

It’s the first Friday of the month. Time for another installment of short fiction. You can, at any time, find this work or any of the First Friday Fiction Features (#FFFF), by going to the My Work tab, clicking on Freebies, and selecting the story you wish to read.

Remember that 2014 is the year I’m trying serial work. This is part 8 of 12.

Laci and Del: Birthday Wishes

Laci’s stomach churned. This was so not a good idea.

After she and Del had talked out the misunderstanding that had broken them up for a year, they had each explained it to their families in the hopes of putting to rest the hard feelings that had developed. She wasn’t sure it had worked, particularly where his mother was concerned.

His birthday should be a day of celebration, not a day of détente.

She swirled the knife through the fluffy white frosting on three-tiered fudge cake she’d baked that morning. Just when she thought it looked perfect, Del ran his finger through the top.

“Mmm, that’s good.”

“Damn it, Del. I just finished frosting that. Couldn’t you take some out of the bowl?”

“It looked better on the cake.”

She sighed and scooped more icing onto the cake. “Don’t you have something to do?”

“Nope. Charcoal’s in the grill and ready to light. Steaks are marinating. Vegetables are skewered. Beer and sodas are in the cooler. All that’s left for me to do is…” He spun her toward him, wrapped his arms around her waist, and dipped his head to capture her mouth in a searing kiss.

Her mind emptied of everything that had been nagging her. It cleared of all thought, all reason. All she knew were his lips on hers. His kiss was hot, sweet… a heady combination of sensuality and hunger.

The sound of a cough brought her back to reality. She tore herself away from Del and her mother gave a nervous chuckle. “Excuse us. Should we have knocked?”

“Mom, Dad. Hi.” Laci gave each of her parents a hug.

“Del, happy birthday,” Alice said and hugged him.

“Good to see you,” Gary said and shook his hand. “As we were getting on the elevator, we saw your parents drive by. They should be coming up soon.”

“Thanks, Gary. Can I get you two something to drink?” Del led them into the living room and Laci took a deep breath.

For a brief moment she had forgotten all about getting her apartment ready for their guests, finishing the food, and spending time with Del’s family. Now it all came flooding back. The worry about the food. The concern over the decorations. The panic over his mother. She swirled the knife through the frosting and tried to control her breathing.

“You missed a spot.”

Nora had somehow entered her apartment—entered her kitchen—without her noticing. That made twice she’d been surprised in a few minutes. She needed to stop getting lost in her thoughts… and other activities. She also needed to start locking her door.

Dipping the knife back in the bowl, she put the final touches on Del’s cake.

“Aren’t you even going to say hello?” Nora asked.

“I’m sorry. That was rude of me.” Laci stabbed the knife into the remaining icing in the bowl and turned to face Del’s mother. “It’s just that you took me by surprise.”

“Hello, Laci.”

“Hello, Nora. How was your drive?”

Nora leaned against the counter. “Please, stop. Just stop. I’m not above enduring polite conversation in public settings with people I don’t like, but this isn’t exactly our situation, is it?”

Laci wiped her hands on her apron and noticed Nora reading it. She was wearing the “Kiss Me… I May Have a Wee Bit o’ Irish in Me” apron she’d bought for St. Patrick’s Day. When Nora frowned, Laci untied it and took it off. “So what would you say our situation is, exactly?”

“I know we’ve never been close, but we both love my son. And now that I know you didn’t break his heart like I thought, I’m willing to try—I want to try and move past all this. I’d like for us to become, well, if not friends, at least friendly. For Del.”

Relief flooded through Laci. That was better than she could have hoped for. “Of course, Nora. I’d like that.”

“Well, it’s not like we’ll be seeing that much of each other anyway. What with you both moving out west. But I’m glad to know you’re on board with making the effort.” She swiped her finger through the frosting on the cake. “Hmm. That’s awfully sweet. But I’m sure the cake will cut some of the sugar.” She walked out of the kitchen.

Laci clenched her teeth and set about fixing the cake. Again. The icing was not too sweet. And she never said she was going out west with Del. In fact, it had been her hope that he’d convince his boss to just let him travel back and forth instead of moving there. Did he already accept the job? Did he actually tell his parents they were moving?

She didn’t want to jump to conclusions again, but things didn’t look good. She’d let Del have his day, but they had to talk. Soon.

She spent the rest of the day only half paying attention to what was going on. Her mind was reeling with what Nora had told her. They were through dinner and Del was blowing out his candles before she realized she couldn’t remember two minutes of conversation with anyone since Nora had left her kitchen. She cut and passed out cake while thinking about her future with Del. Wondered if she had a future with Del.

When it was time to clear the plates, they were all scraped clean. Except for Nora’s. She’d barely touched hers.

“Time for gifts,” Alice said. Gary passed her an envelope which she handed to Del.

He tore it open. “Box seats to the Steelers’ home opener. Thanks!”

“I know how you two love football,” Gary said. “Thought you might want to catch a game in style.”

“Tickets are impossible to get. Especially box seats.” Laci got up and looked at the tickets over Del’s shoulder. “How’d you manage these?”

“I know a guy who knows a guy. It pays to have connections in town.”

It was like a knife to Laci’s gut. If she chose to move with Del—and that was a big if—she wouldn’t know anyone, wouldn’t have any connections.

Nora and Patrick passed a small box over to their son. “Ours next,” his father said.

Del ripped the paper off the box and opened it. A gorgeous antique watch was inside. He ran his finger over it, a wistful look on his face.

“It was his grandfather’s,” Nora said. “We wanted him to have something to remember him by—all of us by—before he leaves.”

“Leaves?” Alice said. “Where is he going?”

“Laci didn’t tell you?” Nora said. “They’re moving to the West Coast.”

“You’re what?” Alice and Gary said together.

“You know,” Del said, “I think Laci didn’t tell you because we haven’t come to any concrete decisions about our future yet.”

“Isn’t this exactly what happened the last time?” Alice asked.

“The last time was different,” Nora said. “Laci wasn’t willing to go then. She is now. Aren’t you?” Nora fixed her with a piercing stare.

“Are you leaving?” Alice whispered.

“You know, it’s getting late,” Gary said. “We should go and let the kids talk.”

Nora was digging her heels in, but Patrick convinced her to go. After everyone left, Del turned to Laci. “I didn’t tell my parents we were definitely going. You know my mom. She gets something in her head, and… well. That’s that.”

Laci shrugged and started cleaning up.

“Leave it for later. We need to talk about this.”

“Not tonight. I’m not ready.”

“Fine. Not tonight.” He hugged her and placed a kiss on top of her head. “How about you give me my present.”

She sighed, pulled away, and started walking into the bedroom. “You can open it tomorrow.”

“What’s wrong with now?” He looked at a large box in festive paper on the floor. “I’m assuming this is it.”

“Yes, but—”

Del tore the wrapping paper off and stared at his gift. “You bought me a set of luggage?”

“I know you don’t have a set. And the overnight bag you travel with is pretty ratty.”

“So, you’ve already made up your mind about me leaving?”

“I told you I’m not ready to discuss this right now.” He wouldn’t be open to her idea, not when he was upset. And she wasn’t willing to fight over it, especially on his birthday.

“Did you buy yourself any luggage?”

“What?”

“I know your set is pretty worn. Did you buy yourself any?”

She bit her lip, but didn’t say anything.

“You know, I think I’m going to go home.” He headed for the door.

She chased after him. “But it’s your birthday.”

“Yeah. And it’s one I’ll never forget.” And he walked out.

Laci was going to chase him, but she didn’t bother. He was in no frame of mind to listen.

Would she find the right words once he’d calmed down, or would it be too late?

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Memories, Extended Family, and Reunions—What Really Matters

We’re smack in the middle of summer. The kids have been asking about a trip home, which is funny, because it hasn’t really been their home since they were in diapers. But we all still call it “home,” because that’s where family is.

And summer is the ideal time for family reunions. We won’t be attending any this year, I’m afraid. Between work schedules, football camp, and tennis practices, we just ran out of time to make the trip.

Which is sad, because we always said family comes first. And they still do, but this year, they’re going to have to come first from afar.

I keep in regular and frequent contact with these folks — even if they are a motley crew.

I talk to my parents every day, and my grandmother fairly often. I talk to my sister all the time, and I hear from my brother more via computer or text (he, like most men, is not the phone-type). My husband talks to his family regularly, too. And the kids talk to their cousins all the time. Well, they text and SnapChat all the time.

So, while I’d love to see these people, they aren’t the ones I’m missing right now. At least, no more than usual.

I’m thinking about the picnics we had yearly where the whole clan got together. The great-aunt and great-uncles and their kids and grandkids (and then great-grandkids). We didn’t fit in anyone’s backyard, so we’d rent a pavilion at a park, and everyone would haul up homemade dishes to share. I don’t know if you have family reunions, or if you do what you serve, but this was no burger-and-hotdog affair. We had pasta, sausage and peppers, hot pepperoni sandwiches, pizza roll, chicken, antipasto platters, arrancini (rice patties), fried vegetables, fruit, and more desserts than you could sell at a bakery. And these weren’t small casserole dishes of food, either. These were huge roasters or platters. And there were always leftovers.

Kids dug into coolers for drinks and got into ice wars while the adults sipped on someone’s homemade wine. People played bocce, Frisbee, horseshoes, and lawn darts. Yes, lawn darts. And no one got impaled. Well, not seriously, anyway. Later (I’d say after we ate, but we ate all day), we’d break into teams for a softball game—if the field was empty—or tag football. The games usually ended when “tag” turned into “tackle” and one or more uncles realized they weren’t as young as they used to be.

Nana, Grandpap, his brothers and sisters–a long, long time ago

There was Rat Pack music all day long, and the adults would sing and tell stories. Sometimes they even danced. And by the time we loaded food and family into the car at dusk, we had somehow managed to catch up with every single person there, toasted the ones who were gone, and made plans for the following year (if not sooner with some of them). Cheeks were sore from laughing (and if you were little, from being pinched), eyes stung from holding back tears, and bodies were bone-weary from the long yet wonderful day.

My grandfather is gone now. Has been since 1986. His brothers are all gone, too. All that’s left of his family is two sisters. On my grandmother’s side, she’s the only one left. That generation is dwindling. Cousins of my parents’ generation have already begun passing away. Every time I miss a summer reunion, I wonder who I missed my last chance to visit with.

I’ll always treasure those family reunion memories from when I was a child. Time marches on and things change. People come in and out of our lives. There is a whole new generation at the reunions now, and there are people like me who often miss because they are so far away. The menu is the same, but different people are preparing the food now. The games are the same (minus the lawn darts). But we still play the music that my grandmother loves. We’ve all grown to love it, too.

Summer is a time for family fun. It’s a shame to not make time for it.

For Writers:

Family traditions are a huge part of what makes a person who they are. Even the absence of tradition or of family can say a lot about a person. See if you can’t incorporate some traditional aspects into your WIP to help develop your characters.

For Everyone:

We aren’t going home this year, but we can still have our own picnic here and tell family stories. Maybe I’ll dig out some old family photos and we’ll place a group call to my grandmother to listen to her tell us some tales from back in the day. Are you going to any reunions this year? What are your traditions? Share them with us here.

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Informative and Emotional PTSD Talk by Pamela Foster

Most of the time, the content of my blog posts reflect subjects found in my fiction: family issues, romantic themes, mysterious elements, etc. Every now and then, however, I share a post regarding a conference I attended, a book I read recently, or something more writing specific. Today’s post is kind of a combination. Part “here’s info about a speech I heard” and part “I’ve read books by this author and I highly recommend her.” Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to attend a local speaking engagement given by Pamela Foster at the Farmington Public Library. If you ever have the opportunity to listen to Pamela speak on any topic, I encourage you to do so. She is a wonderful presenter. This particular talk was on PTSD in our combat veterans. I do not live with a combat veteran. I’m proud to say my father and father-in-law served in the US Navy, and my niece currently serves. But has anyone under my roof faced the horrors of war and returned to live with me, trying to make the transition from a life of constant vigilance, adrenaline, and fear to one where we expect them to be relaxed, adjusted, and happy? No. I can’t say that I’ve lived through that. That doesn’t excuse me from understanding the situation of returning combat veterans. Nor does it excuse anyone else. I thought I understood the concept of PTSD. I thought I got that it affected the family as well as the person dealing with it. I didn’t truly understand the number of symptoms, how they could manifest, and the degree to which they impacted daily life, until I listened to Pamela talk about her life with Jack. I learned a lot about the condition, the treatments available to veterans, and even about PTSD service dogs. (The stories Pamela tells about Chesty—Jack’s service dog—are so entertaining. I recommend her talks and her essays for those alone.) This talk could have been a lecture, a sermon, a clinical discussion. Instead, it was warm, touching, funny, informative… I laughed and I cried, and I left with more knowledge of PTSD and with resources where people go to get help—or possibly offer it. Everyone needs this knowledge. Everyone. Pamela Foster has published novels as well as non-fiction, many of which deal with PTSD. Her voice is expressive and inspirational, really unparalleled in today’s market. I highly recommend you check out her work. Click here to visit her Wounded Warrior Wife website, here to visit her speaker and author page, and here to visit her Amazon page. And Pamela (and Jack), if you happen to read this… thank you.

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Five Tips for Keeping Pets Safe in the Summer

We’re in the middle of a glorious summer. But time moves so fast, and I’m in the middle of a lot of changes. I know I’ll blink and I’ll be writing about leaves changing or snow falling before I know it. Now, though, other than my new (and exciting) job and the new releases I’m preparing for, my mind is on summer fun. Bocce games, tennis matches, lounging by the pool or splashing in it. But we can’t forget about summer safety. Especially for our pets. In Type and Cross, the new novel I’m releasing this fall, one of the characters is an animal rights advocate. She would be the first one to remind us that animals need special care in the heat. So here are 5 tips for caring for our pets in the “dog days” of summer.

Never leave a pet inside a car. Rolling down the windows and even leaving the air conditioner on has been proven to be of little benefit. Cars heat quickly due to the greenhouse effect. • On a 72 °F day, a car can reach 116 °F within an hour. • On a 80 °F day, a car can reach 99 °F within 10 minutes. • On an 85 °F day, a car can reach 102 °F within 10 minutes, 120 °F within 30 minutes. If you see a pet inside a car, contact the manager of the facility where the car is located and ask them to page the owner to the vehicle. If the owner can’t be found, take down the make, model, and license plate and contact the non-emergency number of local law enforcement for assistance.
Watch the humidity. Animals are susceptible to heat stroke on highly humid days. They pant to cool themselves off. Panting evaporates moisture from their lungs, which in turn takes heat away from their bodies. But if the humidity is too high, they won’t be able to expel the moisture, and they won’t be able to get cool. Their temperatures can spike, quickly. If your pet gets heat stroke: •  Get him into the shade or an air-conditioned area • Put ice packs or cold towels on his head, neck, and chest or pour cool (not cold) water over him • Give him small amounts of cool water let him lick ice cubes • Most importantly, get him to a veterinarian
Exercise prudently. We all love to play with our pets, but it can be dangerous in the heat. Here are some tips to make it safer for pets. • Try to limit outdoor activities to morning and evening, avoiding the hottest heat of the day. • Limit sun exposure for pets with white ears, who are more susceptible to skin cancers. • Monitor the breathing of pets with short snouts, who could experience trouble breathing, particularly in high humidity. • Try to stay in grassy areas or natural trails; asphalt and concrete can be too hot for paws. • Make sure to carry water with you; pets can get dehydrated much faster than usual in hot weather.
Keep it Cool. There are plenty of ways to regulate the temperature for your pet so he’s as comfortable as possible. • While outside, try a tarp or natural shade. These alternatives are ideal because they don’t block the flow of air. Pet houses block wind and make heat worse. • Inside or out, make sure your pet has access to cool, fresh water. Add ice if it’s really hot out. • Don’t rely on a fan. They aren’t effective for pets. (Dogs, for example, sweat through their feet, and therefore respond differently to heat than people.) • In extreme heat, try a cool mat, vest, body wrap, or bath to cool your pet down. • Make peanut butter popsicles or other frozen snacks as cool treats for your pet to snack on.
 Protect Pets from Insects A lot of people choose to forego their pet’s flea-and-tick medicine in the winter months. They assume that indoor pets won’t be bothered by those nuisances in the cold months. It certainly isn’t a course that I would recommend, but by all means, resume their dosages in the summer months. Insects abound in the summer. Don’t let your animals suffer just because they’re mostly indoor pets.

For Writers: We all spend a lot of time developing our characters. We write character bibles, we interview them to get to know them better, we agonize over dialogue and description. Do we do the same for their pets? My own dogs have personalities that, were I to write stories about them, would bring them to life as surely as a story about any person. And whether a character owns a pet or not… that alone says something about him or her. How that pet is treated speaks volumes. Spend some time working with the animals in your stories and their owners. Those little details can add layers of richness to your characters with very little work on your part. For Everyone: I hope you’re enjoying your summer. If you have pets, I hope they’re enjoying the summer, too. Do you have a summer/pet story to share? I’d love to hear it. Tips courtesy Humane Society.

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The 238th Great Anniversary Festival

Official Presidential Portrait of John Adams (by John Trumbull, circa 1792)  via wiki commons http://www.whitehouseresearch.org/ass...

Here in the United States of America, many of us are coming back to work after a three day weekend. We just celebrated our country’s 238th birthday. The day before the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Second Continental Congress, John Adams wrote his wife a letter in which he said about that day, “I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”

It is of little matter today that Adams was referring to July 2, the day the declaration was signed, and we celebrate on July 4, the day the declaration was made public to the masses. What is important is that 238 years later, we do celebrate as he envisioned: with parades and picnics, games and fireworks.

My daughter and I cook over an open flame while my husband and son prep the fireworks.

My family had several events on our calendar this year. We couldn’t make them all. My favorite event, however, was right in our own backyard. We cooked food over a fire, enjoyed the swimming pool, and set off the nicest display of fireworks in the neighborhood. I miss the old tradition of the festival in Pennsylvania and then watching the fireworks with our extended family, but sometimes we have to give up old traditions and make way for new ones. We’ve been celebrating this way for four years now. It’s become our new tradition, and I have to say, it’s really quite nice.

And we have a lot to celebrate. We’re all healthy. I’m starting a new (and wonderful) new job. I just signed a three-book publication deal. We think we finally figured out what was wrong with our dog; he seems to be doing better now. Everything is going well.

And we live in the greatest nation in the world. What more could we ask for?

Oh? The book deal? I’ll be talking to you about it more in the coming months, but for now, I’ll just mention the first release will be here before you know it. It’s scheduled for November. November! It’s a mainstream fiction novel called Type and Cross. But we’ll discuss it later…

For Writers:

When we’re writing our novels, we often include the big holidays (Christmas, Thanksgiving, maybe Easter or Halloween) if they fall in our timeframe. But seldom do we think about the smaller ones. Look at the calendar and make sure you work them in. They’ll go a long way in helping you set your scene. Another great tip is to look at the nationalities and religions of your characters. There may be holidays that they should be celebrating because of where they come from or because of their faith. Details like these can really enrich your story and help develop your characters. And who knows? As you research these holidays, you may find something interesting that can turn into an interesting plot twist.

For Everyone:

If you live in the States, I hope you enjoyed your holiday. If not, well, I at least hope you had a good weekend. Here’s to all of us having a safe, happy, and productive week. How did you spend your weekend? Anything exciting to share? Any interesting holidays to write about in your WIP? Let’s talk about it.