Author: admin

Feb 25, 2019

What have you done to make the world a better place?




Does anyone remember the first Earth Day? Way back in 1970 when about 22 million people believed they could do something to make the world a better place.


I was part of the 22 million. The school I was attending organized events for the day, with most regular classes cancelled. Many of us already took buses to school, but, that day, some rode bicycles, carpooled. someone even rode a horse to school.(And this wasn’t in Wyoming!)

Most of the days activities were scientific based, on topics such as eco-systems  and other earth science topics. But we also went out and picked up trash from the neighborhoods around the school.


As a Girl Scout, I was also involved in environmental activities. The troop I was a part of was outdoor-oriented. We did a lot of camping, and as part of that, we did a lot to improve the areas we visited.


Litter still drives me crazy. After buying our Jeep, one of the first things I did was put a box of garbage bags and work gloves under the back seat. That way, when we are out exploring, I can pick up trash other people have left behind. Sure, it still ends up in a dump, but at least it isn’t as much of a hazard to wildlife or an eyesore.

Even when I go for walks in the neighborhood, I’ve been known to pick up plastic cups and haul them home to dispose of. I might even have been spotted chasing down and empty bag blowing through the Walmart parking lot so I can put it in the trash. And I always think- if everyone would pick up one or two pieces of litter on a regular basis, it wouldn’t be the problem it is today. As John Denver sand “Celebrate Earth Day, every day.”

So that’s my little contribution to making the world a better place. What’s yours? 

Feb 25, 2019

What have you done to make the world a better place?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
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Feb 18, 2019

What was your best drop the mic moment?

I had someone ask what a drop the mic moment is. According to the Urban Dictionary, it’s “A phrase describing the action performed after getting the better of someone, or calling someone out so hard that you just walk away indisputably victorious.”


This feels like an opportunity to do a little bragging!


Now, I’m normally a quiet, reserved kind of person. But I work with a great bunch of guys who appreciate the finer points of sarcasm. And every now and then, I come up with a great retort that causes them to stop , shake their heads, and then laugh, because it’s so unexpected. Can I tell you what any of those lines were? Not a shot. I don’t remember the words, only the feeling of satisfaction.

So, instead, let’s take a trip on the wayback machine to the year I was taking a speech class for a college degree. I was a fully functioning adult with a full time job at the time, and took the class because I figured it would be easy. After all, I’d faced down any fears of public speaking in several of the jobs I’d held. Not so for most of the college kids in the class, so I tried to set a good example.

From my point of view, the class was easy but many of my classmates struggles, even though we had a good teacher. AT the end of the semester, we had to do a 3 minute of longer reading. It didn’t need to be anything we created ourselves, and I chose to present one of Allen Ginsberg’s poems. 

We didn’t read in any particular order, and I held back until everyone who wanted to present had finished. After each speaker, there was a round of polite applause. I’d practiced the poem until I had it memorized, and held the book it came from more for comfort than from need. And I wowed the class with my presentation. When I finished, there was a long moment of silence and then the class rose in a standing ovation.


And that was my Drop the Mic moment. Let’s hop over and see what the other authors are sharing.

Feb 18, 2019

What was your best drop the mic moment?

Rules:
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2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
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February 11, 2019


Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and your pets, you have time to safely make a final dash to save any one item. What would it be? Why?


I don’t have any pets right now. Can I save two things? No? Okay, whatever.


I didn’t have to think about this one too hard. There’s a ton of things I’d like to save, but I can’t save everything. My needlepoint, the proof copies of my books, the rocking chair my mother gave me when I was pregnant with my daughter. None of those can be replaced and I’d mourn their loss but I can save only one item.


How about the binders of my poetry? I’ve never transcribed the majority of my work to digital format. I’d hate to lose those. (Note to self- add that to my to-do list!) But the notebooks aren’t what I’d save.


And I can’t take my computer. Remember, I only can snatch one item. In order to take my PC, I’d have to crawl on the floor and detach a bunch of cables. No time for that. 


But what I can grab is my backup drive. It’ll only take a second or two. And yes, I can hear you thinking, that’s an interesting choice, but why? Is it because you’ve saved your books on it?


Good guess, and a nice bonus, but wrong. The real reason is because of all the pictures saved to it. We’re talking old family pictures. Pictures of my parents’ families. pictures of my husband’s parents. Then there are all the pictures of the kids growing up- pictures I spent hours scanning from printed copies. Pictures taken before the invention of digital cameras, when film was used to capture memories. We have boxes of those, and in case of a fire, I’d never be able to save all the paper copies. But I’ve scanned many of them, and they reside on the backup drive.


Add in copies of all the pictures we’ve taken since we bought out first digital camera— it took pictures onto floppy disks!—and you get an idea of how much history ‘lives’ on that hard drive. For example, here’s a picture of my grandfather from WWI.

The pictures aren’t replaceable. And that’s why I’d grab the backup hard drive.


What would you take? You can tell me in the comments. In the meantime, I’m going to hop on over and check out what everyone else would save.

February 11, 2019

Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and your pets, you have time to safely make a final dash to save any one item. What would it be? Why?

Rules:
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2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

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It’s the first Wednesday of the month again, and time for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. Today’s Question: Besides writing, what other creative outlets do you have?

Thanks to our Co-Hosts:  Raimey Gallant, Natalie Aguirre, CV Grehan, and Michelle Wallace!

Most of my spare time these days is taken up by some aspect of my writing- whether it’s actual writing, or publicity, or tending to social pages to get my name out there. But I have one other creative outlet that I’ve shared on here before- needlepoint and types of yarn art..

I think the reason I enjoy it is because there’s an almost mathematical precision to it that results in beautiful designs. It’s relaxing and exciting at the same time to watch yarn become art.

I did a blog post on this a couple of years ago, so a few of you may recognize some of my work.The pictures below may not be my original designs, but they are results of my hard work.

So that’s some of what I do besides write.

To find out what other authors do beside write, check out the other links

February 4, 2019

If you could make one change in the world, what would it be?

Is world peace too much to ask for? Unfortunately, I think it is. It’s overwhelming to consider all the pieces and parts that it would take to make that happen 

So, I’m going to go for something not so out of reach but still lofty. I’d like to see everyone in the world have enough to eat.

Experts say it’s possible. It would take changes in what we eat and how we eat. Just the twenty-five percent of food that gets wasted between farm and.consumption could go a long way to filling the gap. Just think about the food that gets thrown out by supermarkets because it isn’t perfect. How about everything that doesn’t get eaten at restaurants because the serving sizes are so large?

The trick is getting the otherwise wasted food to the people who need it. The infrastructure to make it happen doesn’t exist. Of course, there are also government regulations and competing interests that get in the way.

Then there’s the debate about land that could be used to grow food being used to grow crops to make fuel. And another debate about our insistence of eating tons of beef and the effort and land that goes into growing crops to support that habit. And that leads to the debate about how much of the world’s food problems could be solved if we all ate healthier.


I’m not wise enough or powerful enough to solve all those issues. But if I could change just one thing in this world, I’d wave my magic wand and make sure no one was going hungry, and that the food they had was good quality.

Now let’s hear from you. If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?

February 4, 2019

If you could make one change in the world, what would it be?

Rules:
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2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
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January 28, 2019

Are humans better at creating or destroying?

In nature, destruction and creation are part of a never-ending cycle. A forest fire helps ensure the health of a new forest. A dead flower contains the seeds for new plants. A volcano destroys existing land to build more. A wolf will take down its prey to feed its cubs.

But humans are different. We have the ability to destroy for the sake of destruction and we use it. We’ve given the world the atomic bomb and the holocaust. The responsibility for the disappearance of hundreds of species- the dodo bird, the California grizzle bear, the passenger pigeon and hundreds of others- rest on humans. Of course, there’s the current ongoing debate about global warning and its potential effect on human civilization.

On the flip side, humans are capable of creating things of great beauty. Powerful music that stirs our emotions. Books that make us laugh or cry, or both. Lovely paintings and other artwork that touch our souls.

So which are humans better at?  Destruction can be easy, thoughtless, and swift. Being creative takes thought and effort. It can take months for a musician to write a song, years for an author to write a book, a lifetime for an artist to create a masterpiece. 

So I’m on the side that humans are better creators. It’s harder, but worth the effort. Now let’s see what the other authors have to say.


January 28, 2019

Are humans better at creating or destroying?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
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January 21, 2019

What keeps you up at night?

When I was younger, I could sleep through just about anything. Thunderstorms, cars honking, my husband snoring, Babies crying was the exception. I’d always wake up for my babies.

 But I’ve added a few years and I don’t sleep as well as I used to. Thankfully, I can still roll over and get back to sleep fairly quickly. And there are a few things that keep me awake.

I suspect my author friends are going to recognize this first one. If I’ve been struggling with a scene, searching for the right words, I’ll continue to mull it over when I’ve gone to bed. Sometimes, I’ll find the right way to move forward and hope I remember it in the morning. (Yes, I keep a notepad and pen by the bed- I’ve never used it!)

Then there’s the battle with the thermostat. (Not over the thermostat, with the thermostat.) I don’t understand how the temperature that was perfect when I crawled under the covers can suddenly get too hot in the middle of the night- and the thermostat hasn’t been touched. Gremlins. Gremlins are the only explanation.

Some nights, I worry about the health of family members. I’m not worried about mine because I’m in pretty good shape for my age. Not all of my family is so lucky. At least they are getting the proper medical care and that helps.

On rare nights I find myself thinking about my day job, going over checklists, making sure everything that had to be done got completed. Or trying to figure out ways to make the job run smoother. 

Those infrequent nights when I can’t shut down, I have a few tricks to turn off my mind and go to sleep. I call up my memories, I stand in front of my childhood home, and remember it how it was. Or, I take a walk up the dirt road that led past it. There was magic in the fields and woods, and that magic can still send me to sleep when I look for it.

Now, before I fall asleep, let’s go find out what keeps the other authors up at night.

January 21, 2019

What keeps you up at night?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

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January 14, 2019

Have you ever been duped by a so-called service to authors? And what is the best service you’ve ever used?

I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes I over-analyze and over-research simple things. I’ll spend several hours deciding which hotel to stay in on a trip. I’ll take at least that long or longer figuring out the best of several routes to take to our destination.

So it shouldn’t be a shocker that I do the same with my limited writing budget. I read endless posts to the writers groups I follow, check out the Writer’s Beware page from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and hunt down reviews for services I’m considering.

As I result, I don’t think I’ve ever been scammed. Sure, I’ve tried out services that I wasn’t happy with, but I’ve always received some results. Maybe not the ones I’d hoped for, but something.

For example, for my last release, I hired a publicity company. They got me lots of blog spots, facebook posts, twitter feed, but I still didn’t sell many books. They developed a nice banner for the release and several memes, but the book never grabbed the attention of readers. So, I don’t consider them a scam, just disappointing.

I tried out someone claiming to be an editor, but she was only a proofreader (and found a few things that needed corrected). I’ve paid for book promotion spots that didn’t get result even though they were sent to the mailing list.

But I’ve had some good experiences as well. Robin Reads and ENT  (Ereader News Today) are my favorite book promotion newsletters. (I haven’t tried BookBub yet.) Granted, Robin Reads is starting to get on the pricey side in comparison to sales, but they still sell books. And ENT does a great job reaching an audience.


My next ‘big” experiment will be in trying to get reviews. I think almost every author out there knows what a struggle that is. But I’m not ready yet to take the plunge and join a paid site. I need to do a lot more research first. Anyone have any experience they’d like to share?

While I’m waiting, I’m going to check out what our other authors are sharing, so I can find out what to avoid and what to add to my list of trusted services! 

January 14, 2019

Have you ever been duped by a so-called service to authors? And what is the best service you’ve ever used?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

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January 7, 2019


Share a recipe for a food that comes from one of your books.


Harmony Duprie, from my mystery series, lives a simple life. (With the exception of her salsa-red Jaguar.) She lives in a small apartment, buys used furniture, rarely eats out, preferring to cook her own food. Naturally, the food she cooks reflects that simplicity.


In the upcoming book, The Contessa’s Brooch, I have Harmony cooking hamburger soup for Lando and Scotty. (Remember them from Book 1? Yes, they are making a return to Oak Grove!) She puts them to work helping her chop the vegetables, figuring it was time to wean them away from fast food.


Cutting up the vegetables is the most time-consuming part of this recipe. (Besides the cooking time.) I suggest you do it before you start the actual cooking process.


Hamburger Soup


1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef (or do half and half of hamburger and Italian sausage for an extra kick in flavor)


3 stalks celery, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
4 cups shredded cabbage
1 sweet bell pepper, chopped ( I like to use one green, 1 yellow and 1 red pepper for eye appeal)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
4 cups beef broth (I usually end up using more)
1/2 tsp seasoning salt
1/2 tsp basil
1/4 tsp garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste


( I like to add chopped carrots for added color)


Brown ground beef , onions, celery, garlic and pepper until meat is no longer pink. Add cabbage and cook together. (In real life, unless you have a really big frying pan, you aren’t going to fit all that cabbage in it. I just add a little to the meat mixture to cook it, and throw the rest in the soup pot.)


Drain the meat mixture, then add the seasonings. Transfer the meat and vegetables to a stock pot, add the beef stock and tomato sauce. Mix. Simmer 30-35 minutes. 


I like to serve with a sprinkling of cheese on top and rolls for dipping. 


It’s the perfect dish for supper on a cold winter day.


Now that my mouth is watering, I’m off to see what the other authors are cooking!

January 7, 2019

Share a recipe for a food that comes from one of your books.

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

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