IWSG: Go on, Light Yourself on Fire

But don't burn yourself out.

I wish someone had uttered those words to me when I started into this writing gig, because they would have saved me a great deal of trauma.

We talk often about balance in this field, and when I first started out I was trying to do everything. I was on facebook all the time. I dabbled with twitter. I wrote like a fanatic, edited manically, critiqued anything people would let me handle, and read anything and everything about improving my art. I joined bloghops and contests. I attended conferences and and penned out every dream. I ran myself into the ground.

Years later, I've acquired a balance. We all have limits, and you must know yours. Mine now center around blogging once a week, writing daily, editing only in the daylight hours when my kids don't need me, critiquing at a pace that fits around my life (rather than the other way around), and participating in social media to taste. I still read like my life depends on it, but that reading has evolved more to fiction which I then review to support fellow authors. I don't participate in every cover reveal or blog tour because my blog is typically booked out 4 to 6 months, but given a chance to help, I do what I can--via a quick tweet, a share on Facebook, a book review, or a future feature date. We need to be generous to one another, but for heaven's sake, please don't kill yourself. No one wants that on their conscience.




Ready to guess the lie and win a book? 

Last week, the awesome C. Lee McKenzie shared DOUBLE NEGATIVE with us, along with two truths and one lie. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win any one of her books: Sliding on the Edge, The Princess of Las Pulgas, Alligators Overhead or Double Negative.  

Lee's game: 

1. Lee's favorite sport is spelunking.
2. She irons her sheets.
3. She's going to Myanmar in November. And the lie is:

#1, and if you don't know what spelunking is, let me give you a hint:  (Aka caving. I used to do this with my dad all the time.)
Way to guess those of you who got it right! And the winner is:
...DRUM ROLL...

Sarah Foster!
Congrats Sarah! 

And now to today's feature:


SO many lovelies to choose from...SF/F/Paranormal/Suspense... R. Mac Wheeler has jumped out of planes, driven motorcycles like an idiot, shot zillions of guns (never with ear protection--what?), ridden helicopters, rappelled down cliffs, explored mine shafts, skied, kayaked, had surgery on both knees and shoulders, and moved across the continent.  You can bet he built all of those experiences in his writing.
A native Texan, Mac has called South Florida home since 1987 where he and his wife spend their free time laughing at their three goofy dogs.
A former computer programmer and project manager,  he now focuses full time on science fiction, fantasy, suspense and paranormal that leverages the quirkiness and emotions of real life more often than the far fetched. 
You might find him munching on a three Mexican cheese mix over Jacked Doritos, bean dip, and jalapenos, in front of a football game.
Mac gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out the lie will go into my magic hat for the chance to win your choice of any of his eBook's. YIKES! 
You have until Tuesday, August 12th, at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on August 13th.
TRUTH OR LIE
1. Mac rarely steps out the door of his house without a camera in hand.
2. He has never taken a writing class.
3. He maxed out the 140 MPH speedometer on his GS 750 while racing down Mt. Franklin.  
Only one more week to sign up for:

DO IT! (There will be cheese--otherwise known as prizes for the amazing people who help with the tour...which may involve cheese, or other amazing things.)
Which is the lie? Have you ever lit yourself on fire (figuratively)? Did you know what spelunking is? Are you a thrill seeker like Mac?