Diane Bator's Blog, page 50
January 22, 2021
Round Robin Blog Fest January 2021
Welcome back to our crazy, fun, always interesting
Round Robin Blog Fest!!
2021 has certainly started with a bang in so many ways.
For one, I found out I am one of the top 10 bestselling authors for BWL Publishing! This is my second year with that honor and I'm so excited! They even make us these great little logos to attach to our social media accounts.
For now, we're going to ignore the crazy things that have surfaced this year and focus on this month's question to our amazing authors: What is on your writing to-do list for this year? Do you have any long range goals or just wrap up?
I tend to take on a lot of things. I just can't say no. That's my biggest downfall.
It would be great if my body could keep up with my mind some days so I could whittle down my Wanna-Do list. At least the Wanna-Do's eventually hit my To-Do list. This seems to be the year a lot of them have migrated from one list to the other!
In the year which shall not be named, I was fortunate to release two novels: Dead Without Shame and Drop Dead Cowboy. I also wrote two more books while in lockdown, one during Nanowrimo and the other that I just finished over Christmas.
Here we are barely into 2021 and my writing world has had a few interesting twists added.
First of all, my Escape with a Writer blog is going strong! Last year I featured over 80 authors!
Secondly, I have two upcoming novels. All That Shines will be released in April and a second, unnamed novel in November. I also have a Gilda Wright Mystery novel scheduled for August.
Then came the twist.
Last winter, I took an acting class that came to a sudden end in March. During that class, I began to write a couple plays. One started as a scene for Acting Class. The other was just a fun idea that popped into my head one day. A mystery. Since I work in a professional theatre, it's not a stretch for me to side step into the direction of scripts. I've read several of them. The artistic director and I had even discussed a couple of my ideas before... You know.
Then came two more twists:
1) a chat with the artistic director regarding about a script I showed him. He can't wait to see where the story goes and would love to workshop it in our theatre! I guess I have some writing to do!
2) an email from Foster Festival in St. Catharines, Ontario to join a playwriting workshop with Canadian playwright Norm Foster. Since we have featured several of Norm's plays in our own theatre, Theatre Orangeville, I was excited for the opportunity and jumped at it! My first class is January 26. Hopefully, I'll have a rough draft of my play done by then. Or at least mostly done.
The good news is All That Shines is done and just needs another good edit before it goes to my publisher. The Gilda Wright novella is almost done as well. As for the third novel, I have ideas.
As I said, 2021 has arrived with a few interesting twists. I've also been asked to lead my first seminar in February. Am I ready for it? Nope! I need to write out what I think I'm going to say. I'm already nervous about it.
Every morning, I have started to write out 5 things I am grateful for. I've written "Opportunities" more than once. Funny how I'm suddenly flooded with them!
All the best to you in 2021!
~ Diane
Please wander through the list and visit our other amazingly talented authors!!
Anne StenhouseFiona McGier
January 19, 2021
Dennis Rimmer discusses The Great Canadian Notebook
Welcome to fellow Canadian author Dennis Rimmer!
Dennis has written a fun non-fiction book called The Great Canadian Notebook that features all things Canadian. I have to admit, I did learn something new. I never knew Amelia Earhart and Boris Karloff both had Canadian connections. As well, Dennis talks about everything from Stompin' Tom Connor to the World's Biggest Sausage and everything hockey. A fun read for any trivia buff or anyone who wants to learn more about our great country.
Dennis Rimmer spent much of his working life in the broadcast industry, as an award-winning commercial copy writer, announcer, sports reporter and newsreader. He grew up in Crescent Beach, B.C., finished high school in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and obtained post-secondary educational credentials from the British Columbia Institute of Technology, Whatcom Community College and Western Illinois University.
As a weekly contributor to the daily Bellingham (Washington) Herald newspaper for 14 years, Dennis enjoyed reporting and commenting on all things Canadian. He is now based in rural Saskatchewan with his wife, a dog, and two cats.
www.thegreatcanadiannotebook.com
https://talkingbooksandstuff.libsyn.com/
What would you say are your strengths as an author?
I am a non-fiction writer. Is that also an author? Hope so. Strengths? I think the only real talent I have is to take fairly complex subjects and issues and render them in to an easy to understand, digestible piece. I think this comes from 30 years of writing for radio, where the mission was to write short, snappy, clear, and concise items. I also think I add a bit of wit to my pieces. Many people have said that when they read my stuff they can almost "hear" me talking to them... so I think that reaction is a "success" in my books.
How often do you write, and do you write using a strict routine?
I don't write very often. My most recent work, which is a sort of follow up to The Great Canadian Notebook, took four years to put together. It was sent off to a prospective publisher just last week. I do not have a strict writing routine. However, most of the authors I have interviewed for my podcast (www.talkingbooks.tkthe podcast that talks about books and writing and stuff like that) do have a bit of a routine -- such as writing X number of words per day, or so many pages a day --one author --Jason Schoonover --told me that when he is working on a project he treats it like an actual job --in the writing chair by 9 am -- lunch break -- then back at it until 5 pm. Or , if the prospective writer has daily commitments outside the home, then the best thing to do is carve out a certain amount of time per day or week --even 15 minutes --to work on the project. In my mind, there is no such thing as " I will do it when I have time" -- because there is always time --- get up 15 minutes early and write, or write during tv commercials -- or write a sentence a day. The only way to be a writer is to write, no matter what it takes. Stephen King started out writing on a manual typewriter in the laundry room of his double wide mobile home. I saw successful Canadian author W.P. Kinsella (whose work inspired the Kevin Costner field of dreams movie, and others ) sitting on a bus going from White Rock, B.C., to downtown Vancouver, scribbling away with a pen on paper....if you want to be a writer, you have to write.
Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?
At my age, I hope to still be here 5 years from now.
If you could offer once piece of advice to a novice writer, what would it be?
To be a writer, you have to read a lot and write a lot. Don't be afraid to kill your darlings. Even if you think a sentence you just penned is the greatest thing since "to be or not to be" -- but it doesn't work in the context of the item you are working on, then chuck it. Also, most successful writers will say that writing is editing, and that they have worked through 2 or 3 or more drafts of their work before they finally hand it in.
What would you consider to be the best compliment a reader could give your book?
When people got back to me about THE GREAT CANADIAN NOTEBOOK they said they liked the short, snappy, easy to read items and that many of the pieces in the book inspired them to further dig into the background of the stories -- which is what I was hoping would happen.
What are you working on now?
Right now, I am working ( slowly -- like a page a week or so --) of my memoir, with the working title of "1963 --My last best Year" in which I am trying to chronicle my life memories from 1963 --when I was in grades 8 and 9 -- and also tie in those recollections with the events of the day -- and it will all culminate with the Kennedy assassination in November of 1963, which I figure is the event that flipped many of our worlds upside down. I am also doing weekly book reviews (writing and recording 90 second pieces) for www.ltdradio.com
THE GREAT CANADIAN NOTEBOOK
Where is the largest baseball bat in the country located? What is an ookpik? What’s the story on Hawkins Cheezies?
If you think you know Canada, you might want to grab a copy of The Great Canadian Notebook. The book delves into a plethora of Canadianisms, some of which will no doubt be new to you.
This is Dennis Rimmer’s first book. The long time broadcaster and journalist is now retired and finally found the time to gather these pages. The book is a collection of stories from a ‘Canada Column’ he wrote for the Bellingham Herald over a 14 year period, along with a few extras.
January 16, 2021
Donna B. McNicol invites us to C'Mon Inn B&B Mysteries
Welcome to author Donna B. McNicol!
Donna B. McNicol is a retired IT professional who started writing fiction after retirement. Her preferred genre is small town mysteries with a dash of romance but she has also tackled children's stories, fantasy and small-town romance. In addition, her short stories have been included in several anthologies. She now lives in rural Tennessee with her husband and two Goldendoodles, Cooper and Murphy.
You can sign up for her newsletter and be among the first to hear about new releases, discounts, sales & a lot more!
You can find/follow Donna here: https://campsite.bio/dbmcnicol
Website: https://dbmcnicol.com/
Tell us about your life outside of writing.
As a retired septuagenarian, my life is pretty quiet. We live in a semi-rural area on 2.5 acres. We have two rambunctious, fun-loving black Goldendoodles (yes, that is a thing). When I'm not writing, I'm watching their antics and reading. My husband takes care of all the yard work (phew) and is working on finishing up his huge hobby barn where he plans to work on cars (vintage restorations as well as repairs). He's named it the backend of Nowhere Garage. But when the weather is nice, we love taking short motorcycle trips on our Harley-Davidson Tri-Glide (3 wheel motorcycle).
We've been married almost twelve years now. We met in 2008 as full-time RVers, both widowed and both motorcycle riders. It was fate! We continued to live and travel the US as full-time RVers for ten years. We also had a grand adventure in 2013-2015 when we moved to Cuenca, Ecuador for two years.
Do you have a work in progress?
Oh my, do I ever! I am currently working on my new series, Red Line Coffee mysteries. It takes place in a small tourist driven town where three firefighters joined together to buy and run a small coffee shop. The prequel, Roasts & Rumors will be out by the end of January. The three main books will (hopefully) be out this year. Their titles are: Ventis & Victims, Grandes & Grenades, Talls & Tazers.
Once those are complete, I have half a dozen other series waiting to be written and then there is a possible book four waiting backstage for both my C'Mon Inn Cozy Mystery series and my police procedural Klondike Mystery series. Never a dull moment!
What was the most difficult section/piece you ever wrote? What made it difficult?
I think it would be book one in my C'Mon Inn mysteries. They are set on the island of Kauai and I'd never been to Hawaii. I lived in the real life area where I had set my Klondike mysteries so for the new series I had to resort to a lot of Googling and Google Earth to choose the setting and keep it semi-realistic.
We did cruise to Hawaii and took a helicopter tour over Kauai. When we told the pilot I had a book written that was based around Anini Beach, he made sure to point it out to us. What fun that was!
What sort of research do you do for your work?
Since I am more a pantser than plotter, I typically don't do a lot of upfront research, I do it as I write. Some books require research for the police/medical side of things, While my books are fiction, I like to put them in realistic settings. In some cases, like my Klondike Pennsylvania mysteries, I even toss in real life events and places.
Some of the things I've researched have been human remains detection dogs (HRDD), cults and communities in the 60s, boat explosives and fire suppression, as well as the organization of police and fire in small towns. I tend to go down these rabbit holes way too often!
Which books and authors do you read for pleasure? Is there an author who inspires you?
Over the years I've enjoyed a lot of fantasy, SciFi, romance, and mysteries. I do find when I switch genres, my brain needs to get used to the cadence of that style of book. Right now I'm reading mostly cozy/brozy mysteries because that is what I'm writing. My books tend to be quick, easy, and (hopefully) fun reads. At my age, that's what I enjoy reading so that's what I now enjoy writing.
C'Mon Inn Mystery Series
The C’Mon Inn B&B is run by elderly twin sisters, Betsy and Anna Thompson. They have a habit of caring for those in need, pulling them into their family. Ohana is very important to them. They stand behind those looking for missing loved ones, taking care of lost dogs, dealing with killers on the loose and a lot more. Join them on the beautiful island of Kauai.
PARADISE DAWN:
From Woodstock to communes, on to Vietnam and Hawaii. The Thompson twin sisters discover their ohana through the years.
PARADISE DOWN:
Aloha Nicholás! But will this be a hello or a goodbye? What lies under the water could make you rich or get you killed.
PARADISE DEAD:
Hawaii - paradise or a death trap? Are these really accidents? Or could something more sinister be at play?
PARADISE DRIFT:
A fiery explosion sets a new course for the passengers on a charter boat. Will anyone’s life ever be the same?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GVGFP12
January 12, 2021
Leanna Shields talks about Sparx of Suspicion
Welcome to author and podcaster LeAnna Shields!
I had the pleasure of appearing on her podcast a couple months ago and we had a great time!
I've added the link for our chat at the bottom of the page!
From an early age LeAnna Shields had a love for creating characters. In high school she used to spend her free time writing fanfiction, until one day when one of her friends suggested she write her own characters. After trying various styles and genres she finally found cozy mysteries. Now she enjoys blending the sci-fi and fantasy genres into her mysteries.
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LeAnnashields
Twitter: (not really active and need to do better at that lol) https://twitter.com/inkwielder
website: www.leannashieldsauthor.com
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/leannas1/_saved/
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/LeAnna-Shields/e/B005D74GYQ
What is your latest release?
Well Diane. My latest release is the first in my Mystic Ranch Mysteries Series called Sparx of Suspicion. Some would call it a Paranormal Cozy. But I prefer to call it a Mythic Cozy since all the characters are mythical creatures.
What are you working on now?
Right now I’m working on getting the sequel edited and ready for eventual release. I’m also working on writing books 3 and 4 in that series, and over last November I finished a book called Dragon Roast and Danger that I’m hoping to get back from Alpha readers soon.
Was there a person who encouraged you to write?
Many, but one I remember in particular was a teacher in grade school. I had a lot of imaginary friends back then and would pester this poor woman with stories of their adventures. She told me one day that if I wrote them down she’d read them. She had no idea what path she started me on.
What would you say are your strengths as an author?
My strengths as an author are my ability to create strong and vivid characters.
How often do you write, and do you write using a strict routine?
I try to write every day whether I get one word or one thousand. I wish I had a strict routine, but it seems like that only happens in November.
Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?
Oh wow. Five years? Well I see myself with two solid series out. And Hopefully one of them will be a bestseller. Lol.
SPARX OF SUSPICION
There’s a dead gnome in the sleepy town of La Sola, Colorado. And if Sabiya Feathercroft isn’t careful there could be a dead elf. Her quiet life is turned upside down when she finds the body of her shop manager, and it turns out the rotten little gnome wasn’t just stealing tourmaline from her property. Now a changeling is stalking her while she works to turn her beloved family home into a beautiful inn. Bridger came to town in hopes of a new start. When he meets Sabiya, the charming owner of the local notions shop, he finds that she has a place for rent and thinks things are off to a great start. But when she finds herself being stalked by a changeling can he keep Sabiya safe or will she become the next victim of this crazed killer?Find out in this magical mystery where the mythic meets the mundane and nothing is as it seems.
AND... as promised here is the link to our chat on The Cozy Sleuth!! www.thecozysleuth.com https://anchor.fm/the-cozy-sleuth/episodes/Author-Chat-Diane-Bator-elms73
January 9, 2021
Judy Penz Sheluk releases the Marketville Mysteries Box Set
Welcome back to Judy Penz Sheluk who has released a box set of her Marketville Mysteries!
A former journalist and magazine editor, Judy Penz Sheluk is the author of two mystery series: the Glass Dolphin Mysteries and the Marketville Mysteries. Her short crime fiction appears in several collections, including The Best Laid Plans and Heartbreaks & Half-truths, which she also edited.
Judy is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, the Short Mystery Fiction Society, and Crime Writers of Canada, where she serves as Chair on the Board of Directors. She splits her time between Alliston and Goulais River, Ontario.
Do your characters come before or after your plot?
My books are definitely character-driven, so I’d have to say that while plot is important (after all, without a plot, there’s no story), my characters are the ones that steer the direction.
How do you choose a villain and how do you make them human?
I never pre-plan the villain, they just sort of emerge while I’m writing. Sometimes, I just find myself not liking a character very much, even if they appear likable on the page, and I can’t imagine bringing them into the next book in the series! But even bad guys are people. We’re all flawed in some way, even the most honorable among us. Remembering that keeps them real.
Do your reading choices reflect your writing choices?
I read a lot – always do the Goodreads Reading Challenge (last year 42 books) – and most of what I read are mystery and suspense with the occasional historical fiction or non-fiction tossed in for good measure. So, I guess the short answer is yes, because I try to learn from every book I read, even the ones (or perhaps especially the ones) I don’t particularly like.
Which type of characters are your favorite to write?
Strong, independent women who aren’t afraid to make mistakes in love and in life. If you read my books, my protagonists: Calamity (Callie) Barnstable (Marketville Mysteries), Arabella Carpenter and Emily Garland (Glass Dolphin Mysteries), you’ll see that’s the common thread. I also enjoy writing about the men in their lives, the ones they love, and the ones they loathe. The loathsome ones are a great fun.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on a new cozy series, a standalone suspense, the prequel to Skeletons in the Attic, and the third anthology under the Superior Shores Press imprint. At least, that’s the goal for 2021. We’ll see what unfolds.
What sort of research do you do for your work?
Probably too much. I’m a former journalist and magazine editor, so research comes naturally to me. And I believe it’s the small, factual details that bring a story to life. I have a page on my website called Facts in Fiction which showcases some of these. http://www.judypenzsheluk.com/facts-in-fiction-2/ But it’s also easy to go down the rabbit hole of research and avoid the actual hard work of writing.
SKELETONS IN THE ATTIC: A Marketville Mystery (#1)
First Edition: August 2016 (Imajin Books)
Second Edition: December 2017 (Barking Rain Press)
Third Edition: July 2019 (Superior Shores Press)
What goes on behind closed doors doesn’t always stay there…
Calamity (Callie) Barnstable isn’t surprised to learn she’s the sole beneficiary of her late father’s estate, though she is shocked to discover she has inherited a house in the town of Marketville—a house she didn’t know existed. However, there are conditions attached to Callie’s inheritance: she must move to Marketville, live in the house, and solve her mother’s murder.
Callie’s not keen on dredging up a thirty-year-old mystery, but if she doesn’t do it, there’s a scheming psychic named Misty Rivers who is more than happy to expose the Barnstable family secrets. Determined to thwart Misty and fulfill her father’s wishes, Callie accepts the challenge. But is she ready to face the skeletons hidden in the attic?
PAST & PRESENT: A Marketville Mystery (#2)
First Edition: September 2018 (Superior Shores Press)
Sometimes the past reaches out to the present…
It’s been thirteen months since Calamity (Callie) Barnstable inherited a house in Marketville under the condition that she search for the person who murdered her mother thirty years earlier. She solves the mystery, but what next? Unemployment? Another nine-to-five job in Toronto?
Callie decides to set down roots in Marketville, take the skills and knowledge she acquired over the past year, and start her own business: Past & Present Investigations.
It’s not long before Callie and her new business partner, best friend Chantelle Marchand, get their first client: a woman who wants to find out everything she can about her grandmother, Anneliese Prei, and how she came to a “bad end” in 1956. It sounds like a perfect first assignment. Except for one thing: Anneliese’s past winds its way into Callie’s present, and not in a manner anyone—least of all Callie—could have predicted.
A FOOL’S JOURNEY: A Marketville Mystery (#3)
In March 2000, twenty-year-old Brandon Colbeck left home to find himself on a self-proclaimed “fool’s journey.” No one—not friends or family—have seen or heard from him since, until a phone call from a man claiming to be Brandon brings the case back to the forefront. Calamity (Callie) Barnstable and her team at Past & Present Investigations have been hired to find out what happened to Brandon and where he might be. As Callie follows a trail of buried secrets and decades-old deceptions only one thing is certain: whatever the outcome, there is no such thing as closure.
Judy’s Links:
Website/Blog: http://www.judypenzsheluk.com
Facebook: https://business.facebook.com/JudyPenzSheluk/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/wwwjudypenzshelukcom
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JudyPenzSheluk
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/judypenzsheluk/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/judypenzsheluk/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/judy-penz-sheluk
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Judy-Penz-Sheluk/e/B00O74NX04
January 5, 2021
Myron Edwards introduces Scylla - The Revenge and Mistress of the Rock
Welcome to author Myron Edwards!
Myron was born in 1952 in Orsett, Essex, England, as the youngest son to Welsh parents, Iris and Bill Edwards. Upon leaving school, he went into the travel industry. He travelled the world, working in travel agencies, as a tour operator, and for airlines for some 30 years. In 1976, Myron began freelance writing for the BBC, radio and television. His credits include The Two Ronnies, Week Endings, and The News Huddlines. In 1980, he joined JWT advertising, as a copywriter, writing his first TV commercial for dog food inside 10 days.
Always artistic and inventive, he created Tubewalking in 1987, a new map concept, to help people get around London easier on foot, which still operates today. In 1990, he married Niki, whose family background is Greek Cypriot. On a family trip to Cyprus and while visiting Aphrodite’s Rock for the first time, the beginnings of his passion to write the story of Mistress of the Rock came to fruition.
Moving his family in 2005 to Cyprus to live, gave him the opportunity to write, as during this time he worked on campaigns for TV and Radio in an advertising agency in Limassol. The first manuscript of the book was completed in 2007. Released by a local publisher, it had a limited audience, but was well received by those who read it. He has now completed the sequel and is working on the third part of the story. Myron has three adult children, two sons and a daughter.
What is your latest release?
The latest book is Scylla The Revenge this is the second book in The Mistress of the Rock Trilogy.
What are you working on now?
The third part of the Trilogy Alpha and Omega, The Return.
Was there a person who encouraged you to write?
I fell into writing whilst working as a freelance comedy writer for the BBC.
What would you say are your strengths as an author?
I like to create pictures in my head which are then translated onto the page.
How often do you write, and do you write using a strict routine?
Not really when the mood takes me or if I have an idea for a book.
Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?
Well hopefully alive, but seriously I would love for my books to be read by a world wide audience and produce a film series.
My website where you can also see links to YOU TUBE - for videos about the secret www.myronedwardsbooks.com
SCYLLA –THE REVENGE
By Myron Edwards Copyright 2012 ©
She’s back and this time she’s brought a friend…
The story continues: the sequel to The Mistress of the Rock, is The Revenge.
Still smarting from her rebuke by Richard, Aphrodite plans a series of events that will ultimately bring about the return of Richard Cole to the island. Only this time his welcome will not be so warm, he will have to battle the bureaucracy and the contempt felt by some of the islanders for his sudden departure and the aftermath of his chance discovery.
In addition, he has to battle his own demons that inhabit his waking hours and now with his return to Cyprus, possess him even more.
For Aphrodite is set upon a path of cold revenge and summons the Scylla a mythical cryptid of the deep to do her bidding as the creature wreaks havoc on the once idyllic coast of Cape Greco and the tourist resorts of Ayia Napa and Protaras and Paphos.
Cole must not only face his demons, but he must face the goddess, if he is to stop the terror that now lurks in the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean.
But how is he going to do it?
MISTRESS OF THE ROCK
All’s fair in love and war, or is it?
For Richard Cole ex veteran of the First Gulf War the memories of conflict have become the nightmares of his reality. Only by confronting them can he begin to live again.
He returns to the island of Cyprus some 20 years later from where it all began, for a vacation with his wife Julie.
But a chance discovery places him in a dilemma, as he discovers that Greek Gods and mortals should never mix. Now with Richard Cole powerless to stop the momentum of a phenomenon that tests him to his limits, challenging all that he knows and all that he loves against a fantasy of myth and legend he must struggle to find the truth between what is real and what is not, but at what cost?
On the island of love one man’s obsession turns to possession as his mind, body and spirit are trapped between two worlds and two women.
‘The Mistress of the Rock is a very possessive spirit she does not give her affections lightly.’
As Richard Cole is about to discover.
Book sites:
https://www.amazon.com/Mistress-Rock-Myron-Edwards-ebook/dp/B0725R32DR
https://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/mistress-of-the-rock/myron-edwards/paperback/9781945286148.html
https://www.foyles.co.uk/all?term=Mistress+of+the+Rock
https://bookshop.org/books/mistress-of-the-rock/9781945286148
https://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/scylla-the-revenge/myron-edwards/paperback/9781945286261.html
https://bookshop.org/books/scylla-the-revenge/9781945286261
And my publisher www.rockhillpublishing.com carries them all.
January 2, 2021
J. Q. Rose releases her new novel Arranging a Dream
J. Q. Rose would love to give away an eBook copy of Arranging a Dream
to a lucky commenter! Simply leave a message below!
Whether the story is fiction or non-fiction, J.Q. Rose is “focused on story.” She offers readers chills, giggles and quirky characters woven within the pages of her mystery novels. Her published mysteries are Deadly Undertaking, Terror on Sunshine Boulevardand Dangerous Sanctuary released by Books We Love Publishing. Using her storytelling skills, she provides entertainment and information with articles featured in books, magazines, newspapers, and online magazines.
J.Q. taught elementary school for several years and never lost the love for teaching passed down from her teacher grandmother and mother. She satisfies that aspect of her character by presenting workshops on Writing Your Life Story.
Based on the lessons taught in her workshops, JQ created a book, Your Words, Your Life Story: a Journal for Sharing Memories to help life storytellers write, publish and market their stories. She decided to take her advice and pen her memoir, Arranging a Dream: A Memoir.
If you would like to write or record your life story/memoir, check out the Facebook Group, Telling Your Life Story and Memoirs Circle for encouragement and ways to spark memories. Click here to join. https://www.facebook.com/groups/telllifestories
Blogging, photography, Pegs and Jokers board games and travel are the things that keep JQ out of trouble. She and her husband spend winters in Florida and summers up north with their two daughters, two sons-in-law, four grandsons, one granddaughter, two grand dogs, four grand cats, and one great-grand bearded dragon.
Connect online with J.Q:
J.Q. Rose blog http://www.jqrose.com/
Facebook http://facebook.com/jqroseauthor
J. Q. Rose Amazon Author Page http://tinyurl.com/aeuv4m4
Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/jqrose
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/janetglaser/
BWL http://bookswelove.com/authors/rose-j...
What is your latest release?
Arranging a Dream: A Memoir Released Jan 1, 2021
What are you working on now?
I am enjoying meeting readers and authors during the Virtual Book Tour for Arranging a Dream. That will last through February and into March. Thank you for hosting me on this tour! Then I want to start putting together a book for those who want to tell the story of their spiritual journey similar to my journal for telling life stories, Your Words, Your Life Story: A Journal for Sharing Memories
Was there a person who encouraged you to write?
Yes, my grandmother, Ma. In 7th grade, when I wrote my first novel which was suspiciously similar to Black Beauty, she took my hand-written pages and typed them into a manuscript. I was awed by the printed word and inspired to continue writing because she was so proud of me.
What would you say are your strengths as an author?
I have learned to just write. Get the words down on the page and don’t worry about typos, awkward sentences. I leave a few hashtags when I can’t come up with just the correct word for what I want to convey and write on. It took me a long time to allow myself to just keep going and not waste time on making every word or phrase perfect. That is very difficult for a born perfectionist!
How often do you write, and do you write using a strict routine? I write every day after lunch. I developed that routine when writing my second mystery. You’re probably familiar with that phrase, “get’er done.” That’s the only way I could get it done. Block out that time—15 minutes to two hours every day to write. Sit down and do it.
Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?
I picture my amazon author page displaying a whole string of books—fiction and non-fiction, traditionally published and self-published.
ARRANGING A DREAM
In 1975, budding entrepreneurs Ted and Janet purchase a floral shop and greenhouses where they plan to grow their dream. Leaving friends and family behind in Illinois and losing the security of two paychecks, they transplant themselves, their one-year-old daughter, and all their belongings to Fremont, Michigan, where they know no one.
Will the retiring business owners nurture Ted and Janet as they struggle to develop a blooming business, or will they desert the inexperienced young couple to wither and die in their new environment?
Most of all, can Ted and Janet grow together as they cultivate a loving marriage, juggle parenting with work, and root a thriving business?
Follow this couple’s inspiring story, filled with the joy and triumphs and the obstacles and failures experienced as they travel along the turbulent path of turning dreams into reality.
Pre-order Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/arranging-a-dream
Pre-order Nook BN.com https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/arranging-a-dream-jq-rose/1138258568?ean=2940164728984
Pre-order SW https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1054054
Pre-order amazon page https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NDZNYQJ
Paperback at amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Arranging-Dream-J-Q-Rose/dp/0228615542/
December 31, 2020
New Year Resolutions for 2021
Love 'em or hate 'em there's something to be said for setting goals for a new year. We've all done it. Vowed to lose weight, change jobs, learn new things, be better people, eat healthier, exercise more...blah, blah, blah. What generally ends up happening is that we lose interest in those new ideas by Valentine's Day in favor of chocolate or give up on going to the gym because of the bad weather in January and February. Kudos to those who can follow through where most of us look out the window and decide to forget it. We'll start again after Easter.
Back when I was a karate student years ago, we set three goals for the year. a karate goala personal goala fitness goalWe would write them down on a slip of paper the sensei would keep in his office and get them back the next year when we sat down to write our new goals. Sometimes we accomplished them. Sometimes we achieved them but not in ways we expected.
One of the things I've discovered is that my goals are constantly evolving. I may start off the year with the goal to write or publish a certain book, then end up writing or publishing something totally different. If we keep those goals totally rigid, we lose the ability to go with the flow when something better comes along. We may still accomplish them, but on a different timeline.
What are my goals for 2021? finishing edits on All That Shines which will be published in Aprilfinishing Dead Without Remorse, a novella that will be published in Augusta third book that will come out in November... I just haven't decided which it will be!editing my Nanowrimo novel and possibly self-publishing or finding a publisherediting Written in Stone and submitting it as welloutlining and preparing a new book to write for Nano 2021adding to this list as new things come up!My wish for you all in 2021 is that you remain healthy, passionate, and have fun!I also hope you continue to join us for Escape with a Writer. There are some great things coming this year. I can't wait to introduce you to even more great writers!
Happy 2021!Diane
CHECK OUT MY BOOKS AT: http://bookswelove.net/bator-diane/
December 29, 2020
Tiesha N Bryant reveals debut parenting book Imperfectly Perfect
Welcome to debut author Teisha N Bryant!!
Tiesha N. Bryant is an author, master level social worker and founder/CEO of We Have A Purpose Inc. (WHAP), a non-profit organization that provides prevention and intervention services to at-risk families. She’s a native of Pittsview, Alabama.
Bryant is a graduate of Florida A&M University and Troy University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in 2014 and master’s degree in 2017, both in social work. Bryant has facilitated parenting classes and served at-risk families for over 10 years. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, which includes husband Tjai and daughter Tanaya.
Twitter & IG: tieshanbryant
Facebook: Tiesha Bryant
Amazon/ Tiesha N Bryant
What is your latest release?
Imperfectly Perfect: Three Steps on the Parenthood Journey
What are you working on now?
Creating a card game for families & a memoir.
Was there a person who encouraged you to write?
No, not one person in particular. , I thought about every intervention/ counseling session I’ve had with youth. I thought about how I got to the point I am in my life after being pregnant at 13. I thought about the tears I’ve seen parents shed because they really are at their breaking point. I thought about all the parents who “have it together”.
What would you say are your strengths as an author?
As an author, my strength is being able to provide readers with valuable information that will last a lifetime.
How often do you write, and do you write using a strict routine?
I don’t write often. I write when I’m given instructions by God. I don’t have a strict routine. I write as it comes to me.
Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?
I see myself speaking to nations and providing them with inspiration from my memoir & education from my parenting book.
IMPERFECTLY PERFECT: THREE STEPS ON THE PARENTHOOD JOURNEY
Imperfectly Perfect: Three Steps on the Parenthood Journey is an interactive book filled with resources and information, whether you’re the parent of a newborn, toddler, active almost first grader or entering those terrific teen years. Moms and dads alike can benefit from this book.
Parents will gain understanding of who they are, becoming, and who they have the potential to be. They will identify their values in life & formulate a 5 year plan using SMART Goal. Parents will also identify & explain their love language while understanding the correlation of parenting & love languages. Lastly, they will recognize who contributes to their support system.
Grab a pen and get ready to embrace being the best imperfectly perfect parent.
Books can be purchased at:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087TBFNHY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_.T6QEb711B1NF
E-Book
Imperfectly Perfect: Three Steps on the Parenthood Journeys
Paperback
Imperfectly Perfect: Three Steps on the Parenthood Journey
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087S8XXMP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_xU6QEb4N8CD3M
December 26, 2020
Ileana Renfroe's debut novel A Fashionable Fate
Welcome to debut author Ileana Renfroe who also hosts a fun Facebook page called Cozy Mystery Village that supports fellow cozy authors and readers! I was so lucky to get to beta read this book and adore the characters and the great setting fo Colten Island. In case you haven't already guessed, I loved A Fashionable Fate, which is Book 1 in her new Rosa The Cuban Psychic Mystery series!
Who doesn't love a fashion-designing psychic with a handsome guide and a Nana who reads tarot cards? This book sets up a fun new series filled with many twists and turns - and some great recipes in the back! It's a quick, entertaining read and I'm already awaiting Book 2!
For the longest time Ileana Muñoz-Renfroe wanted to be an author. Almost twenty years later and after raising two children and owning numerous businesses, she decided to take the plunge.
About a year ago as she sat in a Café in Paris the idea of Rosa popped into her head and the stories and characters became real. Since two of her passions are the paranormal and high-end fashion, she found a way to combine them and create Rosa The Cuban Psychic Mysteries. This series brings together her Cuban and American culture to make for a fun cozy mystery story.
She is hard at work on writing a spin-off to Rosa The Cuban Psychic Mysteries and a brand-new series involving the character Candeedo Brewdinkle.
When she is not writing she enjoys traveling, reading, entertaining, and listening to music.
Author Web Page: https://www.imrenfroe.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/IleanaRenfroe
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imrenfroe/
Cozy Mystery Village: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cozymysteryvillage/
Tell us about your life outside of writing.
For now, things are on hold, but normally I would be off visiting my children, traveling as much as possible and entertaining.
Do you have a work in progress?
Yes, I actually have three: Book 2 of Rosa The Cuban Psychic Mysteries, Book 1 of Candeedo Brewdinkle, and Book 1 of Las Cubanitas which is a spin-off of Rosa The Cuban Psychic Mysteries. This Las Cubanitas series will be about Rosa and her best friends Maruchi, Ellie, Alexandra, and Caridad traveling around the world always seemingly caught in the middle of a murder investigation.
What was the most difficult section/piece you ever wrote? What made it difficult?
The most difficult piece was in fact A Fashionable Fate, mostly because it was my first book. However, once I went through the structural edits from my editor, I started to get a better handle on the writing and felt much more confident. Confident enough for this book to be released December 18, 2020!
What sort of research do you do for your work?
For this book, I searched family recipes and the different ways to kill someone, so that I was able to be as accurate as possible on the manner of death. For the Candeedo Brewdinkle book series, I have researched different eras, locations and potential weapons.
Which books and authors do you read for pleasure? Is there an author who inspires you?
One of my overall favorite authors and one who has always been an inspiration is Agatha Christie. The way she weaves a story and keeps you guessing until the very end is what I strived to do in this novel and all future novels.
When I am not writing, I enjoy reading various genres. Depending on my mood, I will read paranormal, romance, British humor, and I have even been known to read some harlequin. I have yet to find a novel that I completely detested.
Was there a person who encouraged you to write?
Both of my children. They always tell me to do what makes me happy and writing has been one thing that I’ve truly enjoyed doing for a long time. When I found myself in full lockdown with my daughter, she pushed me to finally finish Book 1, and thankfully because of her, I went and finished the book.
A FASHIONABLE FATE: ROSA THE CUBAN PSYCHIC MYSTERIES
For the past three years, Rosa de los Reyes, owner of Rosa's Boutique, has organized the fashion show gala on Colten Island. This year, things are getting a little heated and quite deadly.
Rosa not only needs to use her psychic abilities but also needs to tap into the gossip at La Misteriosa, the Cuban Café owned by her Nana (abuela), to figure out who killed one of the models before the event has even started. To make matters worse, another dead body turns up, and in the middle of all this is an international smuggling operation that is underway.
The closer Rosa and her spirit guide, Raul, get to finding the truth, the stickier the situation gets as they race against time to stop the killer from striking again and stopping the crooks from getting away.
https://www.amazon.com/Fashionable-Fate-Psychic-Paranormal-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B08P23PTBP
