Category: Open Book

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A Tiny Symbol #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

July 13, 2026

Is there a childhood toy or book or item that you wish you still had?

How about two?

The first is a 1964 Kennedy Silver half dollar. For those of you who don’t know, that’s a United States coin that was issued to honor John F. Kennedy, the assassinated president of the US. I don’t remember where I got mine – it may have been gifted to me by a customer at the small diner I waitressed at during high school. Or it may have been a birthday gift. I wasn’t into coin collecting, but I recognized it as something special, and kept it in my desk and not with the rest of my money.

When I left for college, the coin stayed home, tucked away in my desk drawer. Sadly, when I returned home at the end of the semester, the coin was gone. Vanished. Poofed.

Now, I can’t guess which of my younger siblings confiscated it for their own use. Or if they recognized its significance. But I’d like to have it back.

I can’t blame the second item’s disappearance on anyone but myself.

It was a mustard seed necklace, popular back then as a symbol of faith. I believe it was a Christmas gift. Or maybe it was for my confirmation. About the only time I wore it was to go to church. And not every Sunday. (Even back then, I didn’t wear a lot of jewelry.) I don’t know when or how it disappeared. Knowing me, I took it off and laid it where it didn’t belong. And by the time I looked for it again, it had been sucked into a black hole.

The necklace wasn’t valuable; similar ones are still available. But I remember how special I felt receiving and wearing mine. (I may be wearing it in this picture.)

 

What item from your childhood do you wish you still had? Tell us about it in the comments. And to find out what our authors wish for, follow the links below.

And, as always, until next time, please stay safe.

FYI – I got looking at the picture of me, and that’s not my mustard seed necklace. 

Goal update: I’ve finished the first of my edits and started the second. I’d hoped to have the book ready for release for the Waterford Festival but that’s next weekend, so I won’t make it. I won’t rush the editing process.

 

July 13, 2026

Is there a childhood toy or book or item that you wish you still had?

 

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Making The World A Better Place #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

July 6, 2026

Here’s a blast from the past – Feb. 2019 to be exact.

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

That was 7 years ago. I had to go back to check if I’d even taken part in that hop, and I had. Back then,  I’d written about taking part in the first Earth Day and continuing environmental activities ever since.  That topic was the first one I planned to use this week until I checked the old files. Naturally, I feel compelled to pick a different topic.

Some of you may know that I’m working part time at a local convenience store. Luckily, most customers are wonderful to work with. Yes, we have our share of shoplifters, but they are discreet. And polite. And our senior population (which feels weird to write, since I’m older than some of them.) And our younger kids, who are counting out change to buy their candy bars and soda.

 

Sometimes, a customer comes up short of money to pay for their purchase. Maybe their card isn’t working. Or they miscalculated the total including tax. They’ll dig through the items to choose one to leave behind. Or run out to their vehicles to look for cash. I feel bad for them, but I can’t fix every one.

Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/theorivierenlaan-5288076/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2800436">TheoRivierenlaan</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2800436">Pixabay</a>

 

But I can help a few.

I’ve taken to carrying a small amount of change with me. If a customer is short, I’ll dig into my pocket and pull out a nickel or dime. It inevitably brings a smile to their faces. That’s all the reward I need. I’ll take their thanks, and tell them to pass it on.

The gesture is nothing big, certainly not world-changing. It’s about as important as picking up one piece of litter from beside the road. But it’s something I can do without thinking twice.

How have the others in this hop changed the world, or a part of it? Find out by following the links below.

As always, please stay safe until next time.

Goal Update: I’m working on editing Chapter 22. It needed more than simple spellcheck; I’m redoing several scenes. 

July 6, 2026

Here’s a blast from the past – Feb. 2019 to be exact.

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If It’s A New Name, Is the Person Any Different? #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

 

June 29 2026

If you had to choose a new author name, what would it be?

I started off as Bobbi Jo Aspen.

That was back when I was writing poetry. I even had a few poems published under that name. I still like it, but it doesn’t suit me anymore. Not in terms of my writing. There are non-writing occasions when it suits me perfectly.

My current pen name came from a failed snail-mail marketing campaign. The mail was misaddressed to the parents of ______ Mac Layne. Thus was born P.J. MacLayne. Having to change again would take more than a happy accident. There are so many factors to consider that I haven’t thought about before. Is the name already taken? (I am surprised by how many P.J.s there are when interacting with other authors. One who helped found this group.) How would the new name look on the cover of a book? Does the name carry a stigma?

How about an old-fashioned name?

I’ve always flirted with the name Gertrude. In fact, I wanted to use it for my Confirmation name (if you know, you know), but I was talked out of it. I don’t remember what I chose instead. Would it work as an author name? My fear is that potential readers would never take a second look, depending on the genre. Historical stories maybe, but science fiction or fantasy? As a side note, it’s likely too long to fit on a cover. 

Although I often slightly change characters’ names to avoid using an actual person’s name, I wouldn’t make a drastic change to a name to use as my pen name. Many people are put off by names that have too many vowels or no vowels at al. Again, the rules are different for fantasy and science fiction.

What would my new author name be?

Well, I can’t use Gertrude. Or Geraldine, my backup name.  What I can use is G.G.. And it isn’t against the rules, so I’ll retain the name MacLayne. That has a nice ring to it. G.G. MacLayne. Hmm. What genre should I write with it?

To find out what pen names the other authors would choose, please follow the links below.

And, as always, please stay safe until the next time.

Goal Update: I’m editing Chapter 20. I’m also fine-tuning some details of the story. There are 25 chapters, although I’m considering breaking the last one into two.

June 29 2026

If you had to choose a new author name, what would it be?

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To The Stars, Alice #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

Do you wish you could travel the stars or the deep (oceans)?

As a teenager, I had a bicycle accident and ended up with an inner ear injury in one ear. As a result, I have a balance issue that gets increasingly worse as I get older. That means neither of the two destinations are in the realm of reality for me. Shoot, there are carnival rides I can no longer enjoy.

Let me add a third destination:

How about the heights? Those of you who have followed me for a while know that I have an affinity for the mountains. I loved my time living in the Rocky Mountains. But living here in the rolling hills of the Appalachians is not a bad choice.

I travelled to quite a few mountain peaks in Colorado, the highest one being Pikes Peak at 14,115 feet. Most of the time, however, I hung out in the North Park/Walden area. There, you can see a new mountain range in all directions. We got to explore dirt roads that led to isolated ranches and ford shallow outlets of mountain reservoirs. Then there was Estes Park, but the yearly influx of tourists limited our time there. The town sits at the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, and is home to a herd of elk that wander the streets (when they want!)

I could sit and stare at views like this forever. (Photo credit: PJ MacLayne)

I’m old now, and can no longer climb on mountain trails to the highest points of most mountains. So, if I make it out West again, I’ll have to stick to established roads. 

Where do our other authors long to go? Find out by following the links below.

And, as always, please stay safe until the next time.

Goal Update: I’m doing a first round edit of Chapter 15. That’s over halfway through the manuscript. I’ve removed over 1000 words in the process.

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Do you wish you could travel the stars or the deep (oceans)?

 

 

 

 

Where The Deer And The Bear Roam #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

June 15, 2026

Have you learned anything new this week?

(or recently?) Any topic.

I thought this would be easy. I try to learn new things all the time. I’m constantly turning to the internet to research topics I run across. This week, I looked up what bear poop looks like.

Let me set this up for you. I live in a rural area, in a community of under 1000 people, with wild animals spotted often. I’ve had deer eat flowers right off my front steps. And people are great at keeping their dogs in their yards or walking on a leash. I’m more likely to run across deer droppings than dog poop when I mow my yard.

At least, I assumed that what I saw was from a rare dog crossing the property. 

Then I heard a report of a bear sighting several blocks away.

I kept it in the back of my mind. Didn’t give it too much thought.

But a few days ago, one of my hummingbird feeders got knocked to the ground. Sure, a deer could have nosed at it and bumped it off the hanger and the bush it hung from. Except three out of four of the nodes that hummingbirds feed from were torn from the feeder. Not just bumped off, the plastic attachments were broken and the feeder couldn’t be fixed.

And when I got looking closer, the glass that held the nectar was scratched. Not just once. 

So, I’m assuming bear. And I’d seen a pile of something a week ago. Off to the internet I went, to look up bear poop.

Image by Brigitte Werner from Pixabay

I didn’t find a match. “My” pile was smaller than those I found online, so I’m not convinced that was the origin. I’m not convinced it was a dog either. Maybe it was a small bear. I’ll have to invest in a trail cam to find out.

Anyway, that’s what I learned this week. How about you? If you want to explore what the other authors learned, follow the links below.

And, as always, please stay safe until next time!

Goal update: If you remember, I finished the book a week ago. Now I’m editing. I’ve removed about 500 words!

 

June 15, 2026

Have you learned anything new this week (or recently?) Any topic.

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A Picture Is Worth #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

June 8, 2026

Do you have a favorite site for free photos to use with your writing?

Or do you use paid photos?

When I first started writing blogs, ages ago, one of the first pieces of advice was to include illustrations. Back then, it could be hard for me to find a picture that wasn’t tied up in copyrights. It’s still hard depending on the topic, but not as hard as it used to be.

In forums along the way, I’ve come across several sites with royalty-free photos. I’ve lost track of some of them, and others shut down. That has left me with only two pages bookmarked.

The first is Pexels.com. It offers a mix of photos, drawings, and AI illustrations. It used to have a wide selection of illustrations, but these days it partners with IStock photos and the user needs to be careful about the pictures they choose.

The second is my favorite. Pixabay.com. It’s my go-to. It offers a wide selection of pictures and artists. Yes, users are requested to make a donation to the creator, but it’s not required. And pictures can be downloaded in different sizes, whichever fits the platform being used.

When it comes to covers, my cover artist uses paid photos. We’ve spent hours going through pictures, picking the perfect ones for her to use to create the design. Then she does her magic.

What sites do our authors use? Find out by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

Goal Update! I did it! I have finished the first draft of the Donovan File, The Edwards Investigations. It took longer than I’d expected, but the it’s also longer than I’d plan. It ended up at just over 64,000 words. I’ll likely lose several thousand of those in my first attack at diting.

June 8, 2026

Do you have a favorite site for free photos to use with your writing? Or do you use paid photos?

 

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Words I Don’t Use #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

May 25 2026

We’ve talked about our favorite words.

Are there words that you despise and won’t use?

Some years ago, when I was starting a new job in a technology environment,  a current employee challenged me about the worst word I ever used. Now, you must realize I was a mild-mannered older woman, someone who didn’t fit into the typical male stereotype. What they didn’t realize was that as a wordsmith, no word was excluded from my vocabulary.

It took me a moment to figure out how I could push it when I answered. With no manager present, it opened up the boundaries. The only other woman in the workroom had already revealed her character in overheard telephone conversations. So, I went there.

Now, we weren’t in Australia, where this word loses its power. I looked him in the eye and proclaimed, “Cunt.”

I swear my questioner nearly fell over. Instead, after a few seconds, he shook his head and laughed. 

Words have power. That single word gave me entry into a fellowship I didn’t realize existed. After that, the gentleman felt free to include me in various conversations I might have missed out on otherwise. There was only one time when he asked me to leave the room when he had a discussion with the other (male) techs (that wasn’t work-related).

Writing is like that tech. It challenges us to use one of those words. Sometimes  a “wrong” word is the right word. It can be avoided, but that may be at the loss of the strength of the sentence. It’s a choice that writers have to make. Would the example I used above have carried the same meaning if I’d used a tamer word?

Now, I may use words in my writing that I don’t use in real life. Especially as my daughter and grandchildren live with us, and I watch my language around them. But I can type them to strengthen my story and not worry about sullying little ears.

So, there are no words I won’t use in my writing. There are words I think hard about before putting on paper. Words that, while their meaning is rough, the way they are used is rougher. Words that are meant to try to hurt people. In real life, I work hard to take away the power of those words.

Are there words our other authors despise? Find out by following the links below.

And, as always, please stay safe until the next time.

Goal Update: I made it up to 58,800+ words. I didn’t think the book would get this long. I am trying to wrap it up, but there was another shooting instead. 

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May 25 2026

We’ve talked about our favorite words. Are there words that you despise and won’t use?

 

Joy in Nature #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

May 18 2026

Stolen from Deanna Martinez-Bey and Writer’s Digest: What is on your joy list?

How do I possibly make a list of all the things that bring me joy?

It’s endless. But let’s start with today. It’s springtime in Western Pennsylvania, and to a lover of Mother Nature like me, that provides moments of joy everywhere you look. The annual spring migration of birds passes through here, and many varieties stop in the area on their way to their summer homes.

Some stay here. The hummingbirds arrived this week, and I attracted one to my feeder within an hour after I hung it. I’ve never had one sit on my finger, but I have two of the feathers preserved in a plastic bag on my desk. Hummingbirds are joy in motion.

But I don’t have to see any birds for magic to happen. I can sit outside and listen to the chorus of songs from the trees and lawns that surround my home. I may not know which type of bird produces which sound, but I don’t need to. Pure joy in song.

The saying “April showers bring May flowers” was written for this area. When I moved in, I didn’t make any major changes to the yard. I wanted to see what came up as a volunteer. So, with no intervention from me (except for the addition of daffodils and black-eyed Susans) there are over twenty varieties of flowers here. This evening, forget-me-nots and buttercups are taking over. The Japanese iris (purple) are about to break into bloom. Add the baskets of flowers I got for Mother’s Day, the fresh green of the trees bursting into leaf, and its joy in color.

That’s just today and only a start. I could go on forever about finding joy in nature. How about the other authors on this hop? Find out by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe. And have a joyful moment!

Goal update: I’m sitting at 56,400. I didn’t realize this story would go this long. It threw another twist at me.

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May 18 2026

Stolen from Deanna Martinez-Bey and Writer’s Digest: What is on your joy list?

Pie, Cake, Or Ice Cream? #OpenBook Blog hop

  By Open Book

May 11 2026

Do you prefer pie or cake?

Have you ever included either in your writing?

Orson held the door to the restaurant open for me. I nodded at the waitress, who, with a puzzled expression on her face, nodded back. I think she recognized both of us, but couldn’t place why. If I wanted to scream, this was my chance. But for whatever reason, I no longer felt threatened by Orson, and led the way to an empty booth. I slid onto the bench so my back was to the door, figuring he’d be more comfortable being able to watch who came in.

“I’m going to get dessert,” I told him as I took a menu from the holder. “Their pies looked delicious.”

“Ice cream or whipped cream?” he asked.

“Depends. Berry pies are whipped cream, apple are ice cream, and what goes with cherry changes with my mood. How about you?” This seemed more like speed dating than an interview with a famous thief.

“Ice cream. Always.”

Conversation lagged until the waitress came and took our orders. Blueberry pie and coffee for me while he got the traditional apple pie to go with his coffee. I mentally filed away the factoid that he took his coffee black. Orson watched with interest when another police car flew down the street in front of the restaurant. “Must have been an accident or something,” he said.
from: Her Ladyship’s Ring

I’m a cake person, despite the excerpt above. I like the flavor and texture of a good, moist cake. (Something I’ve never quite conquered.) A well-done frosting is a great way to top it off. You have to match the frosting to the flavor of the cake. I can’t imagine anything but a cream cheese frosting to go with carrot cake.

How about pie?

I used to have several great pie recopies. My apple pie was fantastic. And I make a light, flaky pie crust. But pies were never my choice when I’m out. (But I am a whipped cream over ice cream person when it comes to pie.)

How about ice cream?

Well, it isn’t included in the title, but ice cream — that’s always my first choice. None of that fake ice milk or dairy products. It’s got to be real ice cream. (It’s getting harder and more expensive to get it these days.)

And I have included ice cream in my stories. In fact, it became a major clue in the mystery of The Samurai’s Inro.

“The only items the Cookes identified as missing were a Japanese inro and the ice cream cones in the freezer. The culprit trashed the house, so they are still trying to get things cleaned up and figure out what else is gone.”

I tilted my head. “A bunch of kids broke into the house to throw a party and ate the ice cream. The what did you call it- inro?- is somewhere in the mess. And you want to blame Jake?”

How do our other authors feel about the choice of dessert? Find out by following the links below.

And, as always, please stay safe until the next time.

Goal update: I’m at 54800+ words. That’s 3000+ words. It’s hit the spot that I’m so close to finishing the book that I resent any other writing I have to do.

May 11 2026

Do you prefer pie or cake? Have you ever included either in your writing?

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Documenting My Life #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

May 4, 2026

Have you ever kept a diary? Are you still keeping one?

How often do you add an entry?

Many years ago—I’m guessing it was around 6th or 7th grade—I kept a diary. I still have one of those little books buried in a box. It’s been years since I looked through it,  As I remember, it was boring. My life wasn’t interesting back then. The highlight of my week was a Girl Scout meeting.

My daily adventures back then consisted of taking the bus to school, spending my day in the standard lessons of reading, writing, science, and arithmetic. The only thing that may have been different was that my teachers were mostly Roman Catholic nuns. Unlike the stores, they were wonderful and caring. After school came the time to do my chores and homework, play outside when the weather allowed, watch a little TV, and read. I read a lot.

So, there wasn’t much to document in my diary. My life was boring. I had no long-term plans for my life. I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up. I didn’t spend time analyzing my classmates or my relationships with them. I wasn’t part of the in-crowd, but was too smart and with enough friends to not be counted as part of the out-crowd. None of that was documented in my diary because it didn’t affect my life.

The worlds I invented in my head weren’t documented either. Back then, I didn’t write stories. (Although I created them in my head, I didn’t recognize that as a form of writing.) Or poetry. Or anything that didn’t have something to do with my education. I didn’t even note the name of each book I read. One book a night was my standard.

My attempts at keeping a diary didn’t last long. It never took hold, and I never tried again, not even as an adult. But in a way, my books reflect my life and the changes that have happened. 

I know that some of the authors on this hop do keep journals. It’ll be interesting to read their answers to this prompt. You can do that too, by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

Goal update: I’m sitting at 51,700+ words. With any luck, I’ll break 52,000 tonight. I’m nearing the conclusion of the mystery, although maybe not the story.

May 4, 2026

Have you ever kept a diary? Are you still keeping one? How often do you add an entry?

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