Megan Morgan's Blog, page 3

Part of Me

[image error] The #evernighties Thursday Weekly Author Blog Challenge is a once-a-week blogging adventure brought to you exclusively by Evernight authors. Each week, we answer a new question (listed below and borrowed from MFRW.org) and the answers will be featured on the Evernight Reader’s Group on Facebook, as well as our own blogs and social media platforms. Check out the group or follow the #evernighties tag to see how other authors answered this week’s question!

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Week #3: How much of myself is in my writing

This is a really interesting question this week, and the answer is kind of complex. It’s one I like to think about as a writer, though.

First, I think I put a good bit of myself into my writing as far as passion goes. Whatever I’m passionate about/into at the time happens to be what I usually write about. I mean, I think it would be hard to write about something you’re not really interested in. So I do tend to focus on subjects, places, and things that I’m fascinated by. I assume most writers do, and that’s the biggest part of ourselves that we put into our writing.

I also sometimes add personal preferences to my stories. My characters might have some trait or habit that I have, or they like (or don’t) like something that I do. No one character I’ve ever written is EXACTLY like me, but sometimes I give them a bit of my personality. I think that’s natural as a writer too–it’s part of that “write what you know” advice we get whacked over the head with. I might pull from my own memories or childhood to give a character a backstory, but again, no character is a carbon copy of me.

And of course, my characters sometimes end up in places I’ve been and I draw from those experiences. Life translates to fiction, after all. I think it’s fun that way.

What about you? Do you put yourself into your characters?

If I had a million dollars…

Well folks, I’ve gone and joined another blog hop. In the spirit of trying to get my weekly blogging in this year, I thought this would keep me primed. I might not do it every week, and I’ll skip the Wednesdays of IWSG, but I thought I’d give it a shot. You might want to try it too–these questions are fun! Also, of course, I’ve missed the first week.

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge

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Each Wednesday from January 9 – December 18, 2019, Long and Short Reviews is hosting a weekly blog hop.

Blogging is a fun way to meet people and get to know them. We’re offering a weekly “prompt” for authors, non-authors, bookish folks and others to share something weekly and gain new friends and visitors to the blog. There’s no pressure to write something every week (though it should be fun and a challenge), but we do ask that if you do post something, you share your link on the weekly post we’ll put up at our site (it will be the top post on the home page each Wednesday morning) — the link list will be open for new links for 48 hours. Other bloggers will also share their links and you can hop over and see what they have to share.

January 16th – What I would do with a million dollars

I guess it depends on HOW I got the million dollars. Did I win the lottery? Inherit it? Find it? Did someone just hand it to me? Let’s assume I just suddenly had it for the sake of this question, and the taxes/legal issues are taken care of.

First things first–make arrangements to quit my day job, OBVIOUSLY. I’m a pretty essential employee and like my coworkers though, so I wouldn’t leave them, or my company, high and dry. I’d work something out to help train a replacement. And then…bye bye work, hello spending my days writing!

Second, I’d work out how much I want to give to people I care about, and hire a lawyer to handle all that. Even the best people tend to get squirrely about money, so I’d make sure no one could swindle me out of more than I’m offering.

Third–buy a nice car, but I probably wouldn’t move, because I like where I live. I might instead put aside money to save and grow interest so I could buy a nice place to live in the future. Right now, I’m okay where I am. I wouldn’t be home much anyway because of the next choice.

After all that…travel and write! The dream life. I’d probably stay in Iceland for a while, then hop around the planet a bit. And take my laptop with me to capture inspiration. Pump out a few more books. Relax!

Also, I’d buy my cat one of these, because duh, obviously.

Winner!

The winners were announced yesterday and…Hidden won Best Suspense in the Evernight Readers’ Choice awards!

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I’m so happy and grateful! I want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who voted for me! I’ll have a nifty award to show off soon, I promise pictures.

Again, THANK YOU to everyone who voted. You guys are awesome!

Memories

[image error] The #evernighties Thursday Weekly Author Blog Challenge is a once-a-week blogging adventure brought to you exclusively by Evernight authors. Each week, we answer a new question (listed below and borrowed from MFRW.org) and the answers will be featured on the Evernight Reader’s Group on Facebook, as well as our own blogs and social media platforms. Check out the group or follow the #evernighties tag to see how other authors answered this week’s question!

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Week #2: My earliest memory

Welcome to the second week of the blog challenge!

I only remember bits and pieces of my early childhood, but I remember those bits pretty clearly. We moved around a lot when I was a kid (even from state to state) and I remember a lot of the houses/apartments we lived in. I remember traveling a lot on a bus with my mother (we lived in Nevada but her family was here, in Ohio). I remember various significant events like birthdays and Christmas and family members visiting. I also remember school–I changed those pretty often too, due to all the moving. I think the fact that things were constantly changing is the reason I can remember them so vividly. After all, when studying the way our brains make memories, it’s been found that new experiences tend to get imprinted the strongest, because our brain is more alert and paying attention to the new information/surroundings.

However, my absolute EARLIEST memory has photographic evidence to back it up so I know it’s not a false memory. There’s a picture of me around two years old, sitting on a couch with my sister in our Easter dresses, with our Easter baskets. I can remember being on the other side of that picture, sitting on the couch–I really can! That’s honestly the earliest memory I have. It’s a brief flash but it’s definitely a clear memory. I think that’s pretty cool.

How about you? What’s your earliest memory, and do you think it’s real?

Resolutions

We’re into the second week of 2019 already! Can you believe it? Only a few more months of winter here in the northern hemisphere, that’s the way I look at it.

Playing Favorites

[image error] The #evernighties Thursday Weekly Author Blog Challenge is a once-a-week blogging adventure brought to you exclusively by Evernight authors. Each week, we answer a new question (listed below and borrowed from MFRW.org) and the answers will be featured on the Evernight Reader’s Group on Facebook, as well as our own blogs and social media platforms. Check out the group or follow the #evernighties tag to see how other authors answered this week’s question!

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Week #1: Favorite thing I’ve written (and why)

Hello! Welcome to this new blog challenge I’ve jumped into and let’s get it started, shall we?

This is a hard first question! Of course, I love everything I’ve written, or I wouldn’t have written it in the first place. That being said, I think there’s a difference between loving your work and being in love with it. I love old things I’ve written that are finished and behind me, but I’m in love with whatever I’m currently writing, because that’s the one that’s taking up most of my current mind/heart space. So if you asked what I’m in love with, it’s my current WIP. But what work do I love best of all time? Hmm. That’s like trying to pick a favorite child.

I have a few favorites for different reasons. It Takes a Thief was one of my favorite things to write because I was absolutely brimming with inspiration for it, the writing came easily, and the whole story literally poured out of me in a week (it was written, edited, and published within a month). My Siren Song series is my favorite because they were my first publications and they made me a “published author.” The Marrying Type is my favorite cover and also got the most accolades/attention. Hidden is my favorite because it’s the first in the ambitious new series I’m currently writing and I had a few fits and starts to get it to publication.

So which is my favorite? ALL of them! But the most important question is which is YOUR favorite? Because, at the end of the day, what the reader likes best is why we write to begin with.

Will a Star Ever Be Born?

[image error]This post is part of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group blog hop. The first Wednesday of every month is Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. The awesome co-hosts for the January 2 posting of the IWSG are Patricia Lynne, Lisa Buie-Collard, Kim Lajevardi, and Fundy Blue!

Happy New Year! I missed the IWSG last month for the first time ever, because life was keeping me away from blogging (and writing) but I’ve promised myself this year I’m going to be more diligent about both–call it a resolution, if you will. I tend to be a happier person when I’m getting words down, whether they be in stories or blog posts–and I’m determined 2019 will be happy!

I guess my insecurity this month is focusing on the new year–another writing year–and wondering if I’m EVER gonna at least make a living off it. I’ve got a lot of books published but I’m nowhere near making enough money off them to pay the bills, which is what I want eventually. I know sometimes it takes a lot of books, a lot of hard work, and a big old dash of luck, but it gets frustrating. It gets disheartening. Sometimes I ask why am I still doing this, when it feels like I’m getting nowhere? Of course, I know if I DON’T keep doing it, that’s a surefire way to get nowhere forever. So…I’ll keep on keeping on. I don’t want to be famous, I just want to make a career of it!

Well, okay, it would be nice to be famous too. But that’s not the actual goal.

Do you ever get frustrated and disheartened?

January 2 question – What are your favorite and least favorite questions people ask you about your writing?

Hmm, well, I don’t mind anyone wanting to talk to me about writing. It’s my favorite subject, after all. I guess my favorite questions focus on specific aspects of my books or my writing techniques–I love to talk shop. I love when non-writers are curious and want to know when I devote time to my writing, how I do it, and how I come up with ideas. I’m always very flattered and grateful when someone is genuinely curious about my writing.

Least favorite–I would have to say, the impossible questions. When someone asks me “can you tell me how to write a book?” (I’ve gotten that one a few times!) it’s not a question I can easily, or even non-easily, answer. It’s a huge, complicated process and it takes a lot of work and practice. Also, everyone writes a book their own way. And, not a question, but I greatly dislike the “I have an idea for your next book!” conversation. I can’t just write any old thing, and most of the time their ideas aren’t even in the generes I write. I appreciate it, but no thanks.

I hope everyone had a great holiday season! Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

May your 2019 be full of love, luck, health, and happiness. Here’s to a new start and a new day!

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Post-Christmas Recap

How was everyone’s Christmas? I had a particularly lovely one simply because I was actually OFF from my job on Christmas Eve AND Christmas–which I don’t think has ever happened in my working life. I work in food and beverage/hospitality and also in an airport, so we don’t close for the holidays. My regular days off just happened to fall over Christmas. I have to work New Years but hey…I don’t even care, I’m grateful!

I love to decorate, so of course Christmas is my favorite time of year. It’s the most extra time of the year, so it suits me!

[image error] The BIG present was a new gaming chair for my son.

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My son got me some lovely presents. I love Hello Kitty!

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A work friend got me some cute stuff too! Yes, I like coffee and cats. Why do you ask?

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I also bought MYSELF a gift before Christmas, when I upgraded my phone to the Galaxy Note 9. I can’t say enough good things about this phone. It’s AMAZING. I’m a big Samsung/Android person anyway, but this has so much storage and it’s just so responsive and efficient and BIG. I loooove it.

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So yes, it was a pretty lovely Christmas. Do you celebrate? Did you have a good one? What sort of presents did you get?

To finish, here’s a picture of my cat and the funny way she always sits in “her” chair. She just doesn’t want us to forget what a lovely tail she has.

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Have a great weekend!

Merry Christmas!

Have a wonderful holiday!

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