D.G. Kaye's Blog, page 88

#ShareAReviewDay Tuesday – Understanding: An Anthology of True and Significant Life Events Compiled by Stevie Turner & Shared by D. G. Kaye | The Write Stuff

Every Tuesday at Marcia Meara’s – The Write Stuff, she invites us to share one of our books and a review – #ShareAReviewDay. Visit Marcia’s blog and join in her generous offer. This week Marcia featured the new anthology – Understanding, which I’m thrilled to be part of with 19 other authors.   #ShareAReviewDay Tuesday – Understanding: An Anthology of True and Significant Life Events Compiled by Stevie Turner & Shared by D. G. Kaye     This morning, let’s welcome D. G. Kaye (or Debby Geis, as many of us know her) to share a review of an anthology she is a contributor to: Understanding: An Anthology of True and Significant Life Events. This one is bound to strike a note with many, many of us who have been through similar things during our lives. I know you’ll enjoy learning more about it and will pass it along to others. Thanks! ~~~ Thanks so much for bringing back ‘Share A Review Day’ Marcia. Today I’d like to share a brand new book called Understanding, an anthology of true and significant life events, which I’m thrilled to be part of along with 19 other authors, compiled by Stevie Turner. The book is only 99 cents and all proceeds are going to cancer research, and delves deep and personal into poignant events the authors experienced and how they were handled and overcome.   Available on Amazon     REVIEW: 5.0 out of 5 stars An insightful and inspiring collection of experiences April 20, 2019 Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase This collection of experiences, told mainly in the form of questions and answers, from twenty authors and bloggers, is a unique and emotional read. Each of the twenty participants has been through a traumatic time in their lives and each of them has overcome their particular set of circumstances, whether it is a struggle with cancer, sexual abuse, the loss of a loved one or a personal obsession gone wrong. Despite its emotional and heart wrenching content, this book is, on the whole, an uplifting read as well as being an enlightening one. I was impressed and encouraged by each of these writers ability to overcome their personal hardship and find a successful path forward. To my mind, the stories in this book can be divided into two sets, those participants who had to deal with circumstances imposed on them by a third party or outside force creating circumstances over which they did not have complete control and those participants who ended up in a situation of their own making through their obsessive natures or those human frailties, like low self-esteem and anxiety. I know from personal experience with friends and family that overcoming such mental barriers is an incredibly difficult thing to do. I commend all of these authors and bloggers for their courage and honesty in writing their personal stories to help and encourage others who may be facing similar situations. BLURB: The following authors and bloggers kindly answered questions posed by Stevie Turner regarding significant life experiences they had undergone. These events include sexual abuse, a near death experience, alcoholism, being diagnosed with cancer, depression, losing weight, getting married, being a mother to many children, being the daughter of a narcissistic mother, and many more! All proceeds will go to Cancer Research. Featured authors: Alienora Browning Sally Cronin Dorinda Duclos Scarlett Flame Bernard Foong Darlene Foster Janet Gogerty Debbie Harris Lucy V. Hay Miriam Hurdle Phil Huston Pamela Jessen Joe D.G Kaye Lynda McKinney Lambert Jaye Marie Clive Pilcher Abbie Johnson Taylor Beem Weeks Please visit Marcia’s blog for original post. Original Source: #ShareAReviewDay Tuesday – Understanding: An Anthology of True and Significant Life Events Compiled by Stevie Turner & Shared by D. G. Kaye | The Write Stuff

Writer’s Tips – Plagiarization, Signing Contracts, and Book Covers

For this week’s edition of Writer’s Tips, I found some helpful and informative articles around the web on how to deter copyright thieves from our writing, caveats when signing contracts, and a wonderful article from Andrew Joyce, guest writing at The Story Reading Ape’s blog on why it’s important to have a great book cover.   The ‘cut and paste’ thief and what to do if you find your work being plagiarized https://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/2...   Another informative post from Hugh Roberts – How to discover if your work is being plagiarized and how to go about rectifying How To Help Stop Somebody Stealing Your Blog Posts   Great info from Alex at Standout Books on learning your rights when it comes to signing contracts. https://www.standoutbooks.com/legal-o...   By now I’m sure most of you know how important a book cover is for selling books. I’d say that the three most important things in getting someone to plunk down cold hard cash for one of your books are: 1) word of mouth, 2) your book cover, and 3) your blurb. However, you’re not going to get any word of mouth unless you first sell a few books, and to do that you’ll need to have a dynamite and unique cover … and a great blurb. But the cover has to come first. . Book Covers – Guest Post by, Andrew Joyce…   ©DGKayewriter.com

Something to Think About – The R’s of Life – #Respect in our modern world by Sally Cronin | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

Today I’m sharing one of Sally Cronin’s poignant posts from her –  The Rs of Life series. This edition focuses on ‘Respect’. Pour yourself a coffee and enjoy.   Something to Think About – The R’s of Life – #Respect in our modern world by Sally Cronin         In January 2016 I began a series that I was intending to publish as a book but since it has been languishing… I have decided to re-run since it is three years since it was last posted. The title came about as I dipped into a Thesaurus to find some words for a poem I was writing. I noticed that a great many words that reflected (see what I mean) key elements in our lives began with the letter ‘R’. In the original series there was an introduction, but I am skipping that to dive straight into what I believe is becoming extinct in many areas of our world and our own lives….. The posts are a bit longer than the average.. so I hope you have a cup of tea handy! The R’s of Life – Respect. It is always so easy to criticise and I don’t want these observations on the aspects of life that I have experienced to be completely negative. However, there are some human traits that seem to be devolving rather than evolving and I don’t believe it is a trend we want to continue. In this post I am going to explore the very thorny subject of respect. This is a topic that needs to be divided into two areas to do it justice. It is one of the fundamental survival tools we have at our disposal and sadly does not receive the prominence it deserves in the headlines. Self-respect has to come first, as without that basic component, we are unlikely to succeed in life in a way that is acceptable to those close to us, and those we meet along the way. It should not be confused with self-esteem. This is a value that we adopt and then present to the world in varying degrees. It is interesting that you hear the expression ‘low self-esteem‘ frequently and there are many specialists who are happy to  help you raise that to an approved level. It is quite strange to me that anyone considered to have overstepped that approval level is treated quite harshly and labelled arrogant or full of themselves! It seems that the press and the public rather like to see people who have achieved something out of the ordinary be knocked off their pedestal! One way to reach a healthy and productive level of self-esteem is to first establish your self-respect which is a process that begins the moment you are born. Please continue reading at Sally’s Smorgasbord   Source: Something to Think About – The R’s of Life – #Respect in our modern world by Sally Cronin | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine   ©DGKayewriter.com

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – The Travel Column with D.G. Kaye – San Juan, Puerto Rico | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

My monthly edition of the Travel Column at Sally Cronin’s Smorgasbord takes us to Puerto Rico.   Welcome to this month’s edition of the Travel Column. Today I’m going to talk about San Juan, Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico (Spanish for ‘rich port’), is an unincorporated territory of the United States, although it currently resembles a country that stands alone. The island is also affectionately dubbed, ‘La isla del encanto’ – the island of enchantment. Founded by Spanish colonists, Puerto Rico is also considered a Caribbean island located approximately 1000 miles southeast of Miami, Florida and just east of the Dominican Republic. It is also one of the smallest islands in the Greater Antilles being only 100 miles long and 35 miles wide. Puerto Rico is home to almost three and a half million people. The language spoken is predominantly Spanish and the capital city is San Juan.     Puerto Ricans have been considered American since 1917, although it is not recognized as a state, nor do Puerto Ricans have a voice in congress or get to vote in American elections. Puerto Rico’s political status has always been a bone of contention and an ongoing matter of significant debate. The island was named ‘Porto Rico’ by the U.S. after the Treaty of Paris, signed by Spain and the U.S., ending the Spanish/American war. And its name was changed back to Puerto Rico in 1931 giving it the official name – the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.   A bit of History Puerto Rico was colonized by Spain after the arrival of Christopher Columbus circa 1493 and became populated by the Taino people, an indigenous people who became the main inhabitants of the island as they did in various other Caribbean islands. This island endured several other takeovers and wars through the years until 1898 when poet, journalist, and politician – Luis Munoz Rivera among others, tried to persuade the Spanish government to grant Puerto Rico as a self-governing island, ultimately organized as an overseas province of Spain as of July 17, 1898. This turned out to be short-lived as the United States was determined to take over the island and finally did so by invading on July 25, a mere week after Puerto Rico acquired autonomy, during the Spanish/American war. In 1914 the Puerto Rican House of Delegates voted unanimously to separate from the U.S., but this was never to be. . . please continue reading at the Smorgasbord         Source: Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – The Travel Column with D.G. Kaye – San Juan, Puerto Rico | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine   ©DGKayewriter.com    

Sunday Book Review – The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck

Today for my Sunday Book Review, I’m sharing my review of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. This book was one I enjoyed while on winter vacation, and since I read it at the pool in paperback version, it got a lot of attention. Surprisingly, 3 people around the pool came up to me to ask what I thought about the book and they also commented on how much they enjoyed it. The book reads like we’re in a conversation with the author who is sharing his strategy of sorting out in life what’s important enough to care about and why we should let go of the rest.       Blurb: In this generation-defining self-help guide, a superstar blogger cuts through the crap to show us how to stop trying to be “positive” all the time so that we can truly become better, happier people. For decades, we’ve been told that positive thinking is the key to a happy, rich life. “F**k positivity,” Mark Manson says. “Let’s be honest, shit is f**ked and we have to live with it.” In his wildly popular Internet blog, Manson doesn’t sugarcoat or equivocate. He tells it like it is—a dose of raw, refreshing, honest truth that is sorely lacking today. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k is his antidote to the coddling, let’s-all-feel-good mindset that has infected American society and spoiled a generation, rewarding them with gold medals just for showing up. Manson makes the argument, backed both by academic research and well-timed poop jokes, that improving our lives hinges not on our ability to turn lemons into lemonade, but on learning to stomach lemons better. Human beings are flawed and limited—”not everybody can be extraordinary, there are winners and losers in society, and some of it is not fair or your fault.” Manson advises us to get to know our limitations and accept them. Once we embrace our fears, faults, and uncertainties, once we stop running and avoiding and start confronting painful truths, we can begin to find the courage, perseverance, honesty, responsibility, curiosity, and forgiveness we seek. There are only so many things we can give a f**k about so we need to figure out which ones really matter, Manson makes clear. While money is nice, caring about what you do with your life is better, because true wealth is about experience. A much-needed grab-you-by-the-shoulders-and-look-you-in-the-eye moment of real-talk, filled with entertaining stories and profane, ruthless humor, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k is a refreshing slap for a generation to help them lead contented, grounded lives.   My 5 (4 1/2) Star Review: Manson demonstrates, in conversational anecdotes, how life is always going to throw problems our way, but informs us on how to choose what is important in life to give a ‘f*ck’ about. His raw truths, told in satirical humor with many profanities are expressed to inform us that not everything in life is worth the energy to care about. He makes the points through sharing examples from his own life experiences and how he came to writing this book from his well-known blog, illustrating how often from childhood worrying about everything we encounter as children can lead to distancing our values and affect our self-esteem. Through his ups and downs in life he has found the antidotes to what’s really important and what to let go of by not telling us not to care, but explains how to decide what’s important to care about and how to avoid being overwhelmed by every little thing that bombards our emotional well-being. This book reads like we’re listening to the author speak directly to us. Some parts were a bit draggy, but didn’t detract from the amount of stars I give it.   ©DGKayewriter.com

Smorgasbord Health Column – Guest Writer – D.G. Kaye – What I did Yesterday — Besides Having a #Colonoscopy | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

Sally Cronin is running a new series called #Potluck. Sally has been running her ‘posting from the archives’ series whereby bloggers submit some of their older posts to Sally to have featured and given fresh eyes, but in this series, Sally has requested permission to search through our archives and choose what she’d like to share from us. I had to laugh when Sally chose my post on preparing for #colonoscopy. LOL. Enjoy!     Smorgasbord Health Column – Guest Writer – D.G. Kaye – What I did Yesterday – Besides having a #Colonoscopy       D.G. Kaye.. Debby Gies has updated her post from 2015 on her experience with a colonoscopy which was repeated last week. It is one of those things that people are reluctant to talk about, but needs to be demystified and discussed.   What I did Yesterday — Besides Having a #Colonoscopy by D.G. Kaye As I was digging through some older posts, I came across this one I wrote 4 years ago after a colonoscopy and before another one was to come, and I’ve had a few more since that time. Although this post is quite humorous in parts, colonoscopy is serious business. We all dread them, and if you’re anything like me, worse than the actual procedure is the poison prep we have to drink the day prior to the test. In this post I share some of the humorous findings I came across while searching out alternative methods to getting the guck down, but no matter how you slice it, a beast is still a beast, even with lipstick. Since the time of this posting, I have managed to find the potion of lesser evil that actually works for me, but everyone’s system is different so what works for some may not be as effective for others. Just remember, having a colonoscopy can literally save your life. So many people who have them have had polyps found and removed in routine checks which could ultimately have led to colon cancer left unchecked. So put on your big girl/boy pants, choose your potion and do yourself and your families a favor and get yourselves checked!   Colonoscopy – An ugly word, with fearful connotations. Yesterday I went for my overdue colonoscopy appointment. When I say overdue, I mean that it’s been three and a half years since my last one, and consequently, that was my first one. After having my first one and enduring the awful, but not most awful of all the preps, I was lectured then by the gastroenterologist because I didn’t take the prep she instructed me to take, . . . please continue reading   Source: Smorgasbord Health Column – Guest Writer – D.G. Kaye – What I did Yesterday — Besides Having a #Colonoscopy | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine   ©DGKayewriter.com

Friday Featured Author – Jane Risdon Has a New Book! – Undercover Crime Shorts

Today I’m happy to be featuring friend and author and talent extraordinaire, Jane Risdon announcing her new release – Undercover Crime Shorts.  This book also contains a juicy extract of Jane’s next upcoming novel series – Ms. Birdsong detective series. If you love reading short stories, solving crimes and twisted endings, you’ll enjoy Jane’s new book.     Meet Jane: Jane Risdon began her working life in the international music business where she managed recording artists, songwriters, record producers, and where she has been instrumental in placing music on to soundtracks of many TV series and Movies, working alongside her musician husband. After years of promoting talented young artists Jane decided it was time to do what she’s always wanted to do: write. She began writing in earnest some ten years ago starting with flash fiction and short stories – mostly crime/thrillers – and her writing was soon included in various anthologies – to date 15 different publications, some award winning. She has written for numerous online newsletters and magazines and is a regular blogger. She has also written a best-selling novel with author and lifelong friend, best-selling, award-winning author, Christina Jones, set in the UK music scene of the late 1960s. Only One Woman is published by Accent Press with whom Jane signed in 2014. With over 100 short stories needing a home, Jane has recently published Undercover: Crime Shorts with Plaisted Publishing House, which went into the UK Amazon ratings at #18 and into the USA Amazon ratings at #333 upon publication. She is writing the sequel to Only One Woman and is completing a series of novels about a former MI5 intelligence officer; ‘Ms Birdsong Investigates.’ These crime/thrillers are set in the Vale of the White Horse, Oxfordshire, and Jane digs into her early career with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at the height of the Cold War for her inspiration and knowledge of Britain’s Security Services. Jane’s interests include photography, history, and science, and she and her husband enjoy walking and visiting places of interest – something they never had time to enjoy when ‘baby-sitting’ singers and musicians whilst travelling all over the world.     Blurb: Undercover: Crime Shorts Under one cover for the first time a collection of crime shorts from Jane Risdon with more twists and turns than Spaghetti Junction – a must for those who enjoy gripping yarns. Undercover: Crime Shorts features new short stories written with strong female protagonists at its heart and includes Sweet Sable – a redheaded nightclub singer with sex appeal and a sting in her tail, and The Look – a hit woman with an agenda for revenge and a talent for hire. There is an extract form the first novel in the series Ms Birdsong Investigates Murder in Ampney Parva: Operation Matryoshka – where former MI5 intelligence officer, Lavinia Birdsong, is asked to look for a missing woman and finds herself embroiled in murder, the Russian Mafia, and Ukrainian gun-runners. My readers say: Roger A Price: former detective and crime author says: Crime Shorts is a wonderfully satisfying anthology of seven short stories which transcend above the crime fiction genre providing a ripping yarn irrespective of the reader’s crime fiction preference. Jane Risdon has cleverly stitched together a mix of tales to suit all fans of the genre. Gloria Clulow: reader says: As with all Jane’s stories I find them intriguing and unpredictable, leaving me wanting more; I don’t want them to end. Professor Margot Kinberg: Associate professor and author of the Joel Williams crime novels says: Undercover, what a gripping story, so well written. You’ve packed so much ‘punch’ into it, loved it. I really felt the rising tension and suspicion! You’ve captured the suspense of it beautifully and it is such a great set-up with good characters. Charlie Plunkett: reader says: Fast-paced, well written, page-turner that had me so engrossed my train journey flew by. The author clearly has done a lot of research, these short stories all felt very authentic and each had me gripped and on the edge of my seat wondering how they would play out. It’s been a long time since I read anything quite so intriguing and twisty. It certainly got my heart beating faster and I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great murder, mystery. Jane Risdon – my pleasure lovely, praise where it’s due, you have written a fabulous selection of short stories and I will definitely look out for Ms Birdsong.   Visit Jane’s books: Undercover: Crime Shorts https://books2read.com/b/4jD0wo https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unde...- risdon/1130007355 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07RFRVL4P http://www.lulu.com/…/under…/paperbac...   ISBN: 9780359397839 Only One Woman: 53 5* reviews from guys and gals. Available in most countries too. Paperback and eBook on most digital platforms Paperback Waterstones and good indie stores. https://www.facebook.com/RenzandStella https://amzn.to/2VX7yWw https://amzn.to/2HemX1f ISBN: 9781783757312 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Only-One-Wom... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Only-One-Wom... https://accentpressbooks.com/collecti...   Visit Jane on Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/JaneRisdon2 https://janerisdon.wordpress.com https://www.amazon.co.uk/l/B00I3GJ2Y8 https://twitter.com/Jane_Risdon https://www.instagram.com/janerisdonw...  

May 9: Flash Fiction Challenge « Carrot Ranch Literary Community

I’ve hopped on to Charli Mills’ Flash Fiction Challenge for this week: May 9, 2019, prompt: “In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about growing older. It can be humorous, dark or poignant. It can be true or total fiction. It can be fine wine or an old fossil. Go where the prompt leads!” Simple Things   I dropped a fork, bent down, took a minute to get back up, but I did. I went to the fridge, forgot what I went for, so I closed the door and saved on calories. The days of putting on socks while hopping on one foot are long gone or I’d fall flat on my face. A chair now works fine. Naps used to be looked at as punishment when young, now a treasured opportunity. Days pass too quick as years progress. More wrinkle cream, vitamins and brisk walks. Whatever it takes, I’m in. Getting older aint for sissies.   Source: May 9: Flash Fiction Challenge « Carrot Ranch Literary Community

Sunday Book Review – Understanding – An Anthology of True and Significant Life Events

Welcome to my Sunday Book Review. This week I’d like to share my own review for the book Understanding, which I’m thrilled to have taken part in with 19 other authors, compiled by Stevie Turner. This book is filled with moving events shared by these authors with answers to Stevie’s questions pertaining to each author’s experiences.       Blurb: The following authors and bloggers kindly answered questions posed by Stevie Turner regarding significant life experiences they had undergone. These events include sexual abuse, a near death experience, alcoholism, being diagnosed with cancer, depression, losing weight, getting married, being a mother to many children, being the daughter of a narcissistic mother, and many more! All proceeds will go to Cancer Research. Thanks to: Alienora Browning Sally Cronin Dorinda Duclos Scarlett Flame Bernard Foong Darlene Foster Janet Gogerty Debbie Harris Lucy V. Hay Miriam Hurdle Phil Huston Pamela Jessen Joe D.G Kaye Lynda McKinney Lambert Jaye Marie Clive Pilcher Abbie Johnson Taylor Beem Weeks   My 5 Star Review: This anthology takes us into the lives and perspectives of some talented authors with a personal sharing of some of their life’s traumatic events, all on various topics from overcoming addictions, sexual abuse, losing weight and keep it off, near death experience, to living with a narcissist and more! These stories are a raw and sincere telling about how these authors found themselves in these situations and how they triumphed on overcoming their situations. There is so much in these stories that readers will no doubt find themselves relating to some of these experiences, and can hopefully take the positive from to practice in their own lives. The stories are told in response to author Stevie Turner’s questions which delve deeply into each author’s personal situation. And all proceeds from sales going to cancer research, a worthy cause to contribute to.

Smorgasbord – Something to Think About – #Reminder – Going on holiday with your BFF Social Media by Sally Cronin | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

Sally Cronin shares her annual reminder about warning us to be careful while on holiday about what we post on social media, to keep our home safe while away. I trot this post our once a year as a reminder that you are being watched… even when you are not in front of your computer screen. It is not only thieves and vagabonds you need to worry about who might have designs on your empty house, but also trying to claim on your health insurance for some unfortunate mishap that took place while you were having fun in the sun. If your social media is plastered with you indulging in risky behaviour you may be hearing he words (non,no,nein,niet) from your insurance provider. Depending where you go at home or abroad, it can be expensive, especially at peak times, but there are also other costs to take into account resulting from our online exposure. We have all read the stories in the press of teenagers planning a get together whilst parents are away for the night and five thousand turn up on the doorstep and then trash the house.. Every parent’s nightmare.. Yet we adults also have to be careful about what we post on Facebook that might invite unwanted guests into our home. We also have to be savvy about what we post while we are away, as this too might end up costing you thousands. Apart from swearing children to secrecy about their much anticipated two weeks away from August 1st to all their friends. (I am not suggesting for a minute that they might harbour criminal intent), we also need to guard against announcing our time away online to our ‘friends’ on Facebook and other media. I am always clear when I am going away that there is someone in the house, electrified fencing and a python loose in the garden! As we head towards the summer holidays and millions of us board planes and ships to travel around the world, the first thing that we want to do is share our wonderful experiences. With the world-wide web you can post your images to Facebook and other sites every day as you relax on your tropical lanai and watch the sun go down. Clearly this is not Northampton…… Please continue reading at Sally’s Smorgasbord     Source: Smorgasbord – Something to Think About – #Reminder – Going on holiday with your BFF Social Media by Sally Cronin | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine