Stephanie Pitcher Fishman's Blog, page 75

New books for 2017!

Let’s just get something straight from the beginning. A lot of 2016 sucked, and I didn’t have one drop of creative mojo flowing out of me.

Words were hard. Very hard.

But I survived and was blessed with a brand new baby monster who is now 5.5 months old (and adorable!)

Once upon a time there was this indie author who took a year off of writing, but that author had a very good reason.

And I’m back.

Posted by Stephanie Pitcher Fishman, Author onSunday, January 22, 2017

We’re full-force...

Ode to Old Mothers

Dear Old Mothers…

You know who you are. We’re the ones they label as “advanced maternal age” – which is code for YOU AREOLD.We’re the ones who receive questions like, “Is this your grandchild,” and comments like, “You’re really handling this well.”

We get smiles and nods as we carry our newborns into doctor’s appointments with our graying hair falling haphazardly across our baggy eyes, hands clutching our coffees and bodies moving in a constant sway to calm our frazzled babe who has decided t...

My Research Method: Genealogy Style

Recently, I’ve been talking with friends about genealogy, specifically how we conduct our personal family history research. More than once I was asked about my personal research style (as opposed to how I researched for client projects.) Once I stopped gigglingover the many jokes I could make about my scattered interests in time, place, and surname, it hit me.

My method is one that can only be described as disorganized organization.

Because I suffer from a wandering mind and an addiction to...

Book Review: Stone of Fire by J.F. Penn

Goodreads one of my favorite sites. It’s a great way to discover new titles through book reviews and find new authors to follow. I’ve been blessed to find several of my favorite books with Goodreads. Stone of Fire (originally published as Pentecost) is no different.

Joanna Penn is a UK-based author who is well known for her podcast, The Creative Penn, which shares information, resources, and support for self-published, or indie, authors. She writes and publishes thrillers under her pen name,...

Slaying the beast

Pain stinks. When it is chronic, it can take away your energy and your humor. If you’re not careful, it can change who you are. You can become bitter or angry. Life can lose its glow – unless you’re slaying the beast.

Editor’s note: This was originally written by me and published on SlayingFibro.com. I’m moving all of my writing to this hub rather than having it spread across the interwebs. In addition to fiction, I’ll be writing more nonfiction in the future to include stories about living...

Sometimes we need a reset button

Sometimes life decides that we need to turn a complete 180*. I’ve decided to just go with it.

Over the span of the last two years, I’ve publishedmy first novel, was diagnosed with several chronic illnesses, became divorced after fifteen years of marriage, spent a year enjoying my own company, worked for myself and others, and then met the love of my life.

It’s been crazy.

But a good kind of crazy.

If they ever do my life story, whoever plays me needs lots of hair color and high heels.~ Char...

Independent Bookstore Day 2016

We indies have to stick together. And that means that we need to support our local independent bookstores.

You’ve got the chance to do just that this Saturday, April 30, 2016. Join your local bookstore in celebrating the spirit and community of independent bookstores. They are more than just a retail location. These brick and mortar buildings give bookworms the crack that they need. They have cats and coffee, music and mojo.

My favorite has room upon room of crazy book selections, new and use...

Ode to Big Hair: A Throwback Thursday

Oh, big hair. I miss you.

I miss the days of using hairspray that was bad for the environment to puff up my fine strands and make them stand like their thick sisters.

The post Ode to Big Hair: A Throwback Thursday appeared first on Stephanie Pitcher Fishman, Author.

Free Course! Collect, write, and share family stories in just 5 days

Nearly everyone loves a good family story. Except Uncle Edgar, who’d rather teach the 3-year-old how to properly pack tobacco in a pipe… but everyone else loves one. We long to hear them, but it’s so hard to make the time to gather them from relatives when we are leading busy lives. Then, once you have them, what do you do with them? I’ve got the solution.

The post Free Course! Collect, write, and share family stories in just 5 days appeared first on Stephanie Pitcher Fishman, Author.

Be the Indiana Jones of Family Stories (with Freebie!)

I love Indiana Jones. He's the original tomb raider. It's his adventures that got me hooked on the genre, and he remains the best for me. He goes in, gets into trouble, snags his treasure (probably gets into a little more trouble), and gets out to safety. But as great as he is at thinking on his feet, even Indy usually starts off with a plan. When you're heading into the jungle of a family event you have to make a plan to make sure you get out alive with your treasure - those coveted family s...