Helen B. Henderson's Blog, page 76

My World #mfrwauthor

I don't know why anyone would want to, but come along for a day in the life of a business owner, wife, daughter, caregiver, laundrywoman, craft person, and oh yeah, writer and author.

The clock strikes 12:01 AM, midnight bells have rung and the world is settling down. The monitor goes off in a request for the first bathroom run of the night. Back to bed, hopefully for a quick few hours sleep, and if I'm lucky the monitor won't go off until 4 o'clock in the morning. Or if I'm really, really, lucky, I'll get to sleep until 6 or 7. Then the real day begins. Vitals and meds (or pills and pokies as they have been called), cooking breakfast, then bolting down a bite or two of my own.

A quick check of emails then its time for pre-lunch vitals, making lunch, and another quick bite for me.

Afternoons have open slots filled with grocery shopping, mental or physical exercises, filing, cleaning, laundry, and the myriad of other items needed to keep a household running. A few moments of writing might sneak in before its time to cook dinner.

After dinner, with its vitals and meds, is a little downtime with Wheel of Fortune keeping everyone occupied while I sneak in computer work such as paying bills, coordinating affairs, and work on whatever project requires it the most.

Bedtime is a repeat of the morning routine, but with less marks to be made on the checklist. When snores start coming from the back bedroom it's "me time." A cold drink, my feet up, and out comes the notes and computer. Work on the current project, the post for the 52-week  challenge, interviews or other blog posts, research on whatever needs it, fills the time until bed. Other nights instead of computer work out comes the handcrafts to get ready for the next event.

Off to bed and a relaxing hour of television and the clocks strikes 12 again.

That's the 'usual' run of the day. Then there are the weekly gym visits, grandchildren and great-grandchildren's birthdays or other family events, and fixing whatever crisis comes up that day/week/month. 

Welcome to my world. The physical one not the world where I hang out with mages, ride magical equines, and fly with dragons. Be sure to visit the other posts in the challenge. ~till next time. Helen



Here's updates to the list:

http://cathybrockman.com/2017/08/04/a-day-in-my-life-mfrwauthor-amwriting-blogchallenge/

Hear, Read, or Hold #MFRWauthor

I have a confession to make. Although I have authored ebooks, I don't have a Kindle, Nook, tablet or any other ebook reader. So it should come as no surprise, I like my books with physical pages. Hardcover or softcover doesn't matter as long as its pages are paper.


It's not that I'm anti-technology. Not to tell my age, but I remember electric typewriters replacing old manual Remington ones--and the introduction of the then 'new-fangled' word processor. They were not like the modern software versions of today with spell check and the bane to some of us fantasy writers, auto-correct. The word processors were not much more than electric typewriters outfitted with either a magnetic tape reader/writer or a card reader/writer.

Now that might not seem that groundbreaking an invention, but consider this. Not having to retype an entire page of manuscript because of a mis-spelled word or two, or to change a phrase. Secretaries fought over the machines, especially at review time.  Despite having taken hours to type (no corrections were allowed), Each step in the chain of command always changed something. Even something as simple as a word here or a sentence there meant more hours typing to get the 20 plus pages of the 8-carbon form ready for the next review. with a mag-tape machine, you could correct the one or two pages that needed it, and reprint out the entire form in minutes rather than hours or sometimes even days.

I'll get a tablet someday. Until then I'll read ebooks (both my own and those of other authors) using apps on my laptop. One thing I don't see in the foreseeable future? Getting rid of my shelves of to be read, read but want to read again, and reference books.

Till next time, Helen  And be sure to visit the other authors in the hop.

Housekeeping - It's More than Dust Bunnies

I don't know about you but I am not a fanatical housecleaner. Growing up on a farm my mantra was clean to be healthy, dirty enough to be lived in. Now I don't' mean real dirt (although the red clay from the fields loved to be tracked in) it was more of a state of controlled confusion. Running several businesses while working full time insured the mantra was kept when I became an adult and had my own house.

Writers have a lot of digital housecleaning they need to do. Websites, blogs, backups, promotion schedules.

How often do you houseclean your website or blog? Read a few thoughts in my post at Romance University. The post is at  http://romanceuniversity.org/2017/07/24/housekeeping-tips-with-helen-henderson/

~till next time, Helen

Choosing Just One #MFRWauthor

Welcome to week 29 of the MFRWauthor challenge. This week's challenge was to pick a favorite holiday. Decisions...decisions. Should I pick it for the food (which I don't need), the social gathering (moved so those don't happen any more) or the presents. I decided to go with Memorial Day. For most of my married life I lived in a small town and Memorial Day was not just another 3-day weekend for shopping.

Veterans and scouts place flags on the graves of veterans. The entire town gathers along the main street to watch the parade (unless they are one of the marchers.) Fond memories of the parade include the year two young sisters led the first contingent. Many of the participants remarked about the comfortable pace, that for the first time they didn't feel like they had to run to keep up. Of course, there ended up being a large gap between the honor guard and grand marshal and the rest of the parade.

The parade culminates with the laying of a wreath at the foot of the doughboy statue in the local park.

Enjoy the poem the statue inspired by visiting the tribute post or clicking on the picture. And be sure to visit the other posts in the challenge.


~till next time, Helen

Out and About - At the Museum

Sometimes we authors escape from behind our desks.  I escaped to the Tipton County Museum.  And while there had a rare  photograph taken. (I'm the one on the right.) Stop by http://ow.ly/AL9R30dEWac to see it.
 
I'll be back on September 22 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for the Gift Shop Gala at the Tipton County Museum. Wishing the other authors who'll be there lots of sales and happy readers.

~till next time, Helen 

Love, life, and vengeance #MFRWauthor

Every once in a while, a topic comes up that knocks you back on your heels. This week's is one. Life Lessons in your books. Do I want to use the tag lines, look up life lessons online, or just re-read the books and come up with lines of my own. Time available for writing is short so I chose all three, and decided to do a little of each.



Blood may be thicker than water, but in the end, we have to decide whether it is worth our honor. Imprisoned in Stone



This quote from Chico Xavier is perfect for Hatchling's Vengeance.

"Though nobody can go back and make a new beginning... Anyone can start over and make a new ending."



Live the life of your dreams and maybe they'll come true. Dragon Destiny










Be careful of what you wish for.  Windmaster
Click on the covers in the banners for blurbs and excerpts from these books and the rest of my works. And be sure to visit the other authors in the challenge to see what life lessons their books imparted.

Beauty in the beholder's eye #MFRWauthor

First off, I'm not a world traveler. Vacations were camping in the woods alongside scenic rivers or with views of beautiful mountains. I've driven the northern route from California to New Jersey and up Mount Washington. Overseas excursions were a few day trips while living on the island of Luzon in the Philippines and a harrowing taxi ride in Tachikawa Japan.

So what wins the accolade as the most beautiful? Mountains, lakes, historical buildings or monuments? Maybe beaches or waterfalls? 

Waterfall, Pocono Mountains, PennsylvaniaA hard disk crash put those photos temporarily out of reach. Before I announce the decision, let me say I've always had a touch of the romantic in me. So the most beautiful place I've been to is home.

It's not the building you live in 24-7, it is the home you return to after time away. I'm not talking about a physical beauty (as our old tin-roofed barn proves) but one the heart recognizes. And here's a selection of images of mine.




The old tin roof of the family homestead might be rusted and steel cables stop the wall's leaning, but the memories of dancing with cousins in the hayloft are priceless.



After 30 plus years of in-town living, a shaded yard (landscaping to follow) showcases natures beauty in a rare snowfall.



It's corny and cliche, but home is where the heart is.

~till next time be sure to visit the other posts in the challenge for other takes on places of beauty. ~till next time, Helen 

Book Hooks, Lost in the Thrall

Hatchling's Vengeance
(Book 4 of the Dragshi Chronicles)

 
Blurb:

Glyn, former bodyguard and companion to a dragon lord, is now Lady Glynnes Janaleigh, a dragon lord in her own right. And she has found her intended mate. But, her new-found happiness is fleeting. Finding your mate is only half the battle. Keeping them alive is the other. For the last two unattached dragon shifters, survival depends on their swords—and love.

Sometimes not even dragon fire and talons are enough to overcome the journey controlled by fate and the mind control wielded by the leader called—the Parant.

Excerpt:

Fear for his friend chilled Talann. Kynan’s lost in the mating thrall. The other dragshi’s hide glowed a brilliant orange from his exertions. His entire being broadcast a single determination—he would wait no longer.

Kynan trumpeted his defiance. <I fly Lexii. No one will stop me.>

As he swept past, he stretched out a claw. Sharp talons raked Talann from shoulder to wingtip, ripping through flesh and sinew. The pain of a thousand knife cuts tore through his body. 

* * * 

End of Excerpt

Click Chapter 1  for another excerpt and a free read of the first chapter.


Buy Links:  List of Ebook sellers
Paperback: Amazon / Barnes & Noble
And if you missed Hatchling's Mate, an excerpt from Book Three in the series can be found here. 
We all love books. Click on the links below for snippits from the other author in the hop.

Vengeance Earns Stars and More

Reviews:

  "The complexity of the story, the romance, the number of secondary characters and the strength of the world building make this novel a true keeper." CoffeeTimeRomance

      "Henderson... puts the reader right in the
                                  middle of the action, painting pictures vividly
                                  for their imagination"... "an entertaining tale 
                                  with plenty of dragon fun!!"
                                   InD'tale magazine

Blurb:

 
Glyn, former bodyguard and companion to a dragon lord, is now Lady Glynnes Janaleigh, a dragon lord in her own right. And she has found her intended mate. But, her new-found happiness is fleeting. The demand of duty is only the first hurdle when it requires risking life and limb in a mating flight. Fate decrees mating fights don’t always involve the partner you want.

Finding your mate is only half the battle. Keeping them alive is the other. Sometimes not even dragon fire and talons are enough to overcome the mind control wielded by the leader called—the Parant.

Vengeance has a long memory. For the last two unattached dragon shifters, their only weapons to survive their destinies are their swords—and love.

A free read of chapter 1 can be found at Chapter 1. Excerpts and more information on the other books in the series is at The Dragshi Chronicles.

Buy Links: List of Ebook sellers
Paperback: Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Writing is Magic #mfrwauthor

Welcome to week 26, mid-way through the year-long challenge. The question is "Why I Write?"



Sometimes there is one answer to the question, other days the question is more of a negative, "Why am I writing?" This post is going to be short. No lessons, no advice to new writers. Not even an answer to the second question as to why I am still writing.

I could use the standard answer I've heard from writers which is, "Because I can't not write." But I won't.


The truth is I write for the same reason many readers delve into a book--escape from the reality of everyday life.I've always loved to escape into other worlds, whether I became a fast-gun in the American West, an interplanetary explorer, a suave spy, or a fire-throwing mage. Fantasy allows me to create environments where magic lives and heroes rule. Being able to hang out with dragons or horses with a touch of magic in their souls are other reasons why I write fantasies.

And because I am also a reader, my hope is that by my writing, whoever reads it enjoys a respite from their own travails as they fly with dragons and sail with mages.
 
~till next time, Helen. And be sure to visit the other posts in the challenge to see how the authors answer the question, "Why I Write?"