Sit in the darn chair by Barbara Edwards

Barbara Edwards with another family distratcion

One of the biggest problems of any author is ignoring distractions and concentrating on writing. I’ve ben so guilty of doing ‘other’ things and pushing my writing to the back of my desk. Let me share a few.

I signed up for an on-line class on using Scrivener. I told myself I need to know how to use this really helpful writing tool. I did. And I do. the class was helpful in that I learned how to keep my efforts all in one handy area. Now I need to make some efforts.

Can you believe I went on Pinterest to do research? I had to ask my granddaughter how to use search, but it did work. I wanted photos of Afghanistan and found dozens that I had to search through. A time waster? Yes and no. I could have gone to the library for books, checked on google, or waited until I was ready to start my manuscript.

Lilies in my gaarden

 

Another time hog? Email is one. I spend up to two hours a day deleting emails. Oh yeah. Is this necessary? Another yes and no. I have several loops that are for promo. I retweet, I share on Facebook, I comment on other blogs. This gets my name out there so when my books need promo it is reciprocated. 

I did mention my husband had a medical problem this past winter. We’re still going to doctors on a regular basis and it cuts into my writing time like an axe. I have tried taking my laptop with me and writing, but the ‘other’ stuff takes over. I have used that time for the emails so it isn’t a total loss. 

I use my gardening to push writing back. After all, those weeds don’t pull themselves out of the ground. Maybe the gardening is an okay distraction. It clears my mind. I plot as I work. And in the end I have the benefit of some pretty flowers.

What do you do that keeps you from your writing?

Please follow, friend or like me. I love to hear from my readers.

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View From My Writing Window

I moved out here last November and have been entranced with this view from my writing window. It is an ever-changing panoramic of seasons and visitors and a constant source of entertainment.

Since I'm currently deep into revisions, I'm going to cheat on this post and just share a few of the pictures I've taken. Oh, heck, these might be preferred over my ramblings...

 Great Blue Heron

 

Snowy White Egret

Canada Geese

My own personal Bluebird of happiness. Looks a little disgruntled, doesn't he?

 Female Oriole

Fawn has just about lost its spots.






Is it any wonder I often have trouble getting any writing done? 
(I promise I'll actually write something next month. See you then.)

REMULLINS: Author of the Blautsaugers of Amber Heights Series
IT'S A WONDERFUL UNDEAD LIFE
VAMPIRE IN THE SCRYING GLASS
A VAMPIRE TO BE RECKONED WITH

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Learning to Live…with Others by Alicia Dean

I have been divorced for twenty years. I have lived alone several of those years, once my kids were grown. I love it. I love being by myself. Love sleeping by myself. I love it that, when I put scotch tape or scissors in a drawer, they are there when I go back to get them.

On March 1^st of this year, all of that changed. My 30 year old daughter moved in with me, temporarily, until she gets some things taken care of. Wow…have things changed. I love my daughter dearly, but not only would I have difficulty living with anyone at this stage in my life, she’s a bit challenging as a roommate. She tries, or so she says, but she just doesn’t think things through. She is absent-minded and while she’s very considerate on one hand, she’s a bit self-centered on the other. Some of the little annoyances are minor, but when you add them all up, and it’s daily… Sigh…

Oh, you want examples?

• She never, ever replaces bottled water in the fridge, so oftentimes, there are no cold ones when I go to grab one.
• She constantly borrows my things without permission, and she lost one of the earrings in my favorite pair. She eventually found it, but not until after several weeks and much goading and reminding and bitching on my part. 
• Just recently--after a handful of times I attempted to charge my Kindle,  only to discover the charger not in its place--I told her, “Absolutely, do NOT use my Kindle charger again, unless you plug your Kindle into it IN THAT VERY SPOT.” The NEXT day, I went to plug in my Kindle, and the charger was gone. I marched into her bedroom, where she was asleep, but was using my charger to charge her Kindle. She sleepily, crabbily, reluctantly unplugged it and gave it back to me.
• I can only find one of the beaters to my hand mixer. (And she’s never even used it)
• She used my kitchen scissors to trim her dog’s hair.
• I use Keurig coffee, and the pods are a bit costly, but it’s worth it, because I love it and I only drink two cups per day. She is now using the coffee too, and of course, I don’t mind. HOWEVER, she only drinks flavored creamer, and I do not drink it, so I don’t always remember to buy it. On several occasions, she has made a cup of Keurig, then discovered we didn’t have flavored creamer, and poured out the coffee, thereby wasting, a perfectly good, perfectly expensive Keurig pod. Speaking of creamer, twice in the last few weeks, I have come home to find a nearly full, large bottle of flavored creamer left out of the fridge all day, and therefore, had to throw it away.

This all happened, just yesterday: 

• I have begun having meals from Home Chef delivered once a week. (It is AWESOME, by the way. So handy. All the ingredients and the recipes come right to your door). A few days ago, my daughter came home from work after I’d gone to bed and decided to make one of the meals. I woke up to a godawful mess in the kitchen, but that’s neither here nor there. She cooked another of the meals yesterday while I was at work. Last night, I was going to cook the two remaining meals. However, my daughter had ruined that option. 1) The dish she made a few nights ago was the ‘pork’ recipe. As it turned out, she’d used the steak instead, so I had no steak for the recipe I was going to cook last night. It wouldn’t have been so bad, had the pork been chops, but it was loin, which doesn’t replace steak all that well. And, these recipes are tailored to where the ingredients go together nicely. 2) I was also going to make the chicken dish, but she’d used BOTH packages of chicken in the recipe she made earlier that day.
• AND…she’d left another mess in the kitchen.
• AND…the freezer door was standing open.
• AND…I couldn’t find the olive oil because it was in a different cabinet. (Not a big deal, but I just have to wonder, why wouldn’t you just put it back in the cabinet where you’d found it?)
• AND…she’d left a few plates of food on the stove, loosely covered, even though we’ve had an ant problem this summer. She covered them with paper plates. Instead of ‘a’ paper plate, for some unknown reason, she’d used a stack of approximately 5 paper plates over each.

Okay, so…I know this just sounds like a bitch session about my daughter, who, did I mention, I love dearly? I’m just wondering, for those of you who live with others... Especially Donna, whose husband, grown kids, and parents live with her…how do you do it???

Christmas Countdown! by Jannine Gallant

Since I'm tired of promoting my books and have no sales going on until next month, I thought I'd share our Roses of Prose holiday short story plans for this year. Every December, the majority of our authors post Christmas short stories for the entire month. And to make it a little more fun, we all begin our stories with the same first line. Of course choosing a line is all part of the excitement. Everyone threw out ideas and voted, narrowing the field to the top three choices then voted again to get a winner. This year the top three contenders were:

"You asked for a Christmas Miracle?"

This was the absolute last time she kissed anyone under the mistletoe.

She'd rather deck him than deck his halls.

I thought they were all great lines. But, the winning line was...drum roll...

This was the absolute last time she kissed anyone under the mistletoe.

I hope everyone will visit us in December to read our short stories. Is your interest sparked by our mistletoe kisses line?

We also need a title for our collection, which will be incorporated into the cover we use to promote our stories. We want our title to tie to our first line. For example, last year our first line was about a ringing phone, and our collection title was Ringing in the Holidays. So, think kisses or mistletoe... All suggestions are welcome. Load up the comment box for us!

To find out more about my books, check out my website.

Book Reviews: The Good, the Bad and the Funny by Betsy Ashton

I admit it. I read book reviews. I read those posted on Amazon and Goodreads for the books I write. I read reviews of books I read and review, but always after 1) I've finished the book, and 2) after I post my own review.

So it should come as no surprise that I've become a connoisseur of reviews. Not all mine come in through social media or other websites. I have a ton of "old school" readers who send emails or, gasp, snail mail.

Not long ago, I received this from a friend I've known nearly 50 years. He may be a tad partial. He's a critical reader, normally, but he went all fan-guy on me for Uncharted Territory: "I loved the first book, but this one is miles ahead. Great story line, engaging characters, a hint of suspense, and you deal with important contemporary themes without preaching. Brava." I'm still blushing--bragging too.

Posted on Amazon was this gem for Uncharted Territory: "I enjoyed the new characters here, namely, the English tutor Max hired to homeschool the children and the two pastors from different sides of the track. The desolation of the area (post-Katrina, MS) when they arrive is palpable."

Then there was the snail mail letter in which a reader apologized. "I know it took you over a year to write Mad Max Unintended Consequences, but I read it in two days. I couldn't put it down." Well now, that just fine with me.

My favorite one-star review was from a disappointed reader who thought I'd tried to jump on the Jessica Fletcher bandwagon with Mad Max and failed. Bless you, dear reader. I didn't try to be the next Jessica Fletcher. There is only one. I want to be the only Betsy Ashton with Mad Max.

I howled at this three-star review for Mad Max Unintended Consequences: After seeing  "Fury Road...I was overjoyed to learn that Mad Max's adventures continued in literary form. However, after finishing the book, I was left with a lot more questions than answers...Overall, I thought it was a well-written book, even it if took quite a departure from the films. I do hope that, if there is a sequel, Ashton will incorporate more car chase scenes and explosions."

Could this be why so many people on Twitter and Facebook want to hook up at Comic Con???

###

Betsy Ashton is the author of Mad Max, Unintended Consequences, and Uncharted Territory, A Mad Max Mystery, now available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. I'm really excited that the trade paper edition of Uncharted Territory was released this week. Please follow me on my website, on Twitter, Facebook and Goodreads.

My Two Year Countdown by Donna Michaels

Hi, it's Donna Michaels, and the next two years will mark a few milestones in my life, and I’m not talking about my writing life. Yeah, that's crazy busy, but I’m talking about in my personal life. 

Next year, my husband is retiring from the military. He’ll have over 30 years in on the part time side of the National Guard, and 20 years in on the full time side. It has been an amazing, and sometimes trying, journey for him and our family, but it has shaped us all into who we are today. And I have to say I’m very proud of him and our family. But, just because he’ll be retired does not mean he’ll stop working. No way. Michael is a doer, so he’ll find another job, plus become my assistant, which I so desperately need. I just hope I can survive another year without one!! 

Next year will also be special because my super senior son will actually graduate with a college degree! After six years, and many changed majors, Zach has finally found the right one, Asian Studies, and I’m very happy for him. It’s tough when you aren’t born knowing what you want to do. He’s also not the only one of my children to change majors. He’s just the one in college the longest. J

The milestones continue the following year. My daughter, (my baby) will graduate from her college with a degree in Acting/Directing and a minor in Writing. Once she is done and on her own, (hopefully working at her dream job in Disney), my husband and I will be free to start the next chapter in our lives.

We’re moving out on our kids.

Yep. You read that correctly. In two years, my husband and I are moving away from home. lol 

You see, not only are all my grown children still living at home, (including my oldest son and his wife), but my parents are here, too. None of them are coming with us (that I know of). My parents say stop worrying about everyone and go live our lives. But it's not easy. The mom in me feels like I’m abandoning my kids even though they’re all adults, so I need to make sure everyone is settled into their own lives before I leave. They are well aware of our plans, have two years to prepare, and are excited to start making plans of their own.

I just know there are going to be a few story lines sparked by this adventure, and I so look forward to writing them. Heck, at times, my life is an adventure…authored, I swear, by Lucy and Ethel.

Speaking of story lines, I have a new release out with a heroine who has been through quite a bit in her life, and she’s only twenty-six. Here’s what a few readers had to say about HER INDULGENT COWBOY:

“Her Indulgent Cowboy, is the seventh book in the Harland County Series, and just like the others it was fantastic! Going to Harland County, even in the pages of a book is like going home, after a long trip. Donna Michaels has made this place and the people that live there so real, that I can actually picture it in my mind, and the characters are all so down to earth that you cannot help but fall in love with each and every one of them, flaws and all.” ~Debbie Collins

“Her Indulgent Cowboy by Donna Michaels is another fine example of Ms Michaels' story telling abilities. I was hooked by the first paragraph. This well written book is fast paced and loaded with fantastic characters. Lacey and Jesse's story is packed with humor, drama and sexy bits.” ~Deb D

“Donna Michaels has done a great job with capturing the reader. There is such emotion in this story, you have laughter, love and tears. I do not cry often when I read books but this story really gets to your heart and you can't help but feel for these characters.” ~SKeenan

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 I hope you all enjoy the rest of your July!

Thanks for reading,
~Donna
www.donnamichaelsauthor.com

Storytelling - A Family Affair? by Alison Henderson

I'm not one of those writers who always knew she wanted to write. I didn't keep a journal, write fan fiction stories about my favorite singers or movie stars, or scribble wild flights of fantasy when I was growing up. I always hated creative writing assignments in school, because I never thought my ideas were any good. I had no clue how other people managed to come up with such imaginative stories. I assumed I didn't have it in me. Or did I?

When I was lying awake in the wee, small hours this morning--as I so often do--a memory popped into my mind for no reason I can think of. It was the memory my father sitting on the side of my bed when I was four or five, telling me and my younger sister bedtime stories. I don't remember the story lines, but I'll never forget desperately wanting to know what happened next.

My father was a Harvard-trained lawyer and not someone you would expect to have a particularly vivid imagination, but he made up stories that held us rapt. Actually, it was one long story, told episodically, like the 1930's radio serials he had grown up with. The heroine was Iva Marie, a plucky young lady of uncertain age but old enough to have adventures of her own with her maid/sidekick, Nettie Jane. The two girls were accompanied (and chauffeured) on their escapades through New York City by Tony the Taxicab Driver. As I recall, their adventures included all manner of "baddies", and at one point Tony had to drive the cab, with the girls inside, into the Hudson River to escape. With that kind of influence at an early age, I guess I shouldn't be surprised I ended up as a writer.

Fast forward thirty years to my own days as a young parent. When my daughter was born, I quit my job and stayed home with her for eight years. For the first three years, I was her primary playmate, and I loved it. I didn't create fantastic bedtime stories like my dad, but we did act out elaborate situations with her collection of Cabbage Patch dolls. While she was in charge of the stories, my job was to invent and maintain a different voice for each one. It was more of a challenge than you might think. 

Somehow, subconsciously, the time I spent with these two natural storytellers must have spurred me to try my hand at writing fiction. In my mid-thirties, as soon as my daughter started preschool, I began my first book. And although that was many years and seven books ago, some things haven't changed. I still want to know what happens next.

Alison
www.alisonhenderson.com

P.S. - as a retreat from the mid-summer heat or an antidote to political hoopla, my short story collection Small Town Christmas Tales is on sale for $0.99 all month!