Category: Open Book

The Glories Of Fall #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

September 22, 2025

What do you look forward to as Fall comes up?

I’ve lived where there is no fall.

I grew up in the forest-covered hills of Northwest Pennsylvania, where the trees turned a marvelous multitude of colors each fall. Where we’d go for walks, shuffling our feet, and smelling the essence of the earth as the leaves crumbled beneath our feet. But that isn’t the only type of fall I’ve experienced.

I spent a decade on the Oregon Coast. Because of the off-shore water currents and frequent fog banks, the temperatures remained moderate most of the year. ( I only saw snow reach the shoreline once in the ten years we lived there.)  Most of the trees were evergreens, with no leaves to drop. I spent more time trimming my camellia bushes than raking leaves.

Then there was Florida. No fall there either. And no leaves to rake. But grass to mow all year long.

Wyoming’s fall was short, but at least offered hillsides of glorious gold aspen trees. (Confession: this spot was just south of the Wyoming border in Colorado.)

But here I am, less than twenty miles from where I grew up.

.And here we are, with fall hastily taking over. I wasn’t ready for it this year. The first hints of color graced the oak and maple trees in the first week of September. A reminder to hurry and finish the tasks I’ve put off all summer.

At the same time, I’m falling in love again with the little plot of land I call mine. Or rather, I like to think I’ve been given the privilege of taking care of it, even if for a short time. The maple behind the house has already turned orange, and when the morning sun’s rays hit it, it’s enough to make me stop and soak in the momentary beauty.

It won’t be long now until the hillsides turn into a patchwork of color. The tourists will arrive as well, to glimpse the wonder. But unless they take the right back roads, they’ll miss the best views.

So, my answer is simple. What do I look forward to? It’s the glory of the wooded hillsides, and the display Mother Earth shares with us.

How about our other authors? What do they look forward to? Find out by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

P.S. For those of you in the Lancaster PA area, Saturday the 27th, I will be taking part in the Books Books Books event at the Wyndham Expo Center Barn. I’ll be in spot 145. Stop by and say hi!

September 22, 2025

What do you look forward to as Fall comes up?

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Feelings in Flowers #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

September 15, 2025

Victorians had a whole language around flowers. Do you have a favorite bloom?

Do you know what it means? What does it mean to you?

At least he’d already sent Duprie a gift: an expensive bouquet that the saleslady assured him was correct for the occasion. Something about the language of flowers and pink camellias.
The Fall of Jake Hennessey

I’ve played with the language of flowers in several of my stories. Which was perfect for Harmony Duprie, as she was fascinated by the era. (She lived in a Victorian-era house and was remodeling another.)

What is my favorite bloom? It’s lilacs. I love the delicate blooms, the soft scent. There were four large lilac bushes on my parents’ property. (But they predated my parents’ ownership of the home.) I planted two of them when we moved into the home where we are now. They haven’t bloomed yet, but the one very old bush by the corner of the house has. (Not every year, but I’m hoping I can bring it back to better health.)

I looked up the meaning, and the results were confusing.

Some lore associates lilacs with young love and first loves, which makes sense as they are one of the first flowers of spring. But it was also common for widows to wear lilacs as corsage in remembrance of their deceased husbands. Some sites I researched indicated it was dependent on the shade of purple, others were mute on the topic.

What do lilacs mean to me? I associate them with spring and new beginnings. Plus, I love the way they make a room smell. Barely noticeable, but comforting.

What about the other authors  who join this hop? What is their favorite flower? Find out by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

September 15, 2025

Victorians had a whole language around flowers. Do you have a favorite bloom? Do you know what it means? What does it mean to you?

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Great Websites for Writers #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

Sept 8, 2025

It’s been awhile since we’ve done this. Have you come across any great new websites for writers?

Or maybe share an old favorite.

I have a confession. I’ve been slacking. Despite being “mostly” retired, I have less time than ever. It’s a “me” thing, and I can think of a million reasons to justify my behavior. Distractions are everywhere, and my resistance is limited.

Perhaps I’m burnt out. Too many people expect too many things. I had dreams of sitting under the old maple in my backyard to write, but it hasn’t happened. It took me over 4 months to write a 10,000 word short story. Losing my office space didn’t help, but it isn’t entirely to blame, either. Still, it’s hard to go into a writing trance when people are constantly walking by my desk.

And most “new” writing websites I stumble across seem to do nothing but regurgitate old information. Everyone’s an expert, and no one’s an expert.

So, I have no great revelation to share.

Most of the “new” websites I’ve discovered are research related. What federal agency was in charge of nuclear plants in the mid-1980s? What did the Pittsburgh Civic Center’s skyboxes look like? And in what year did Jethro Tull play there? (oops—rabbit hole!)

How about an old favorite?

I use ProWritingAid for the desktop weekly (or more.) With a lifetime subscription that was gifted to me, It’s my go-to for checking grammar, punctuation, and other writing elements. (Gotta watch their advice on commas. the software often gets confused.)

Bring your story to life image with knight and dragon coming out of a book

But I do have something to offer. Long ago, I signed up for emails from the magazine Writer’s Digest. Last week, they offered a list of top websites for writers. The link is below. Lots of interesting looking sites. I haven’t visited all of them, naturally!

https://www.writersdigest.com/writers-digest-101-best-websites-for-writers?utm_medium=email&utm_source=WDG+-+NL+-+Newsletter&oly_enc_id=0384C3289756G7O

I’m looking forward to seeing the pages our other authors suggest. Check out their posts by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

Sept 8, 2025

It’s been awhile since we’ve done this. Have you come across any great new websites for writers?

Or maybe share an old favorite.

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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With A Touch Of Humor #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

Sept 1, 2025

Share the funniest scene you’ve written.

Alternatively, the scariest scene.

I don’t write funny. What I write are humorous moments in the middle of serious business. And Harmony Duprie, my favorite ex-librarian turned internet researcher, is the perfect character for this.

Harmony is an intelligent woman who sometimes suffers from an occasionally lack of common sense. Her logic doesn’t always work the same way as everyone else’s. That results in unexpected fun and adventures.

Here’s the setup for my selection: Eli Hennessey, Harmony’s longtime boss/lover/partner, has been hospitalized for several months after a serious injury. She’s been trying to track down the person responsible for causing the auto accident. In this scene, she’s discovered an intruder in his room, holding him and two others hostage. Harmony is determined to upend the situation.

I gathered my weapons. The paperback book. The mirror. My purse. If I rushed into the room, there’d be additional items to grab. This wasn’t a precision operation.

But I wanted to start with a message.

I fought to pull off the chain around my neck with one hand. If I threw the dog tags to the right spot, Eli would see them and know I was there. Small enough comfort, but a ray of hope.

The bedframe was my initial target. I didn’t wait for the clang of metal against metal to tell me if my aim had been good. The paperback, thrown in Eli’s general direction, followed the dog tags. Next, the mirror and my purse.

By then, I was halfway into the room. I grabbed the closest stuffed animal and hurled it at the attacker’s head. Instinctively, he raised his right hand—his gun hand—to fend it off. He knocked it away, and it hit the floor and started singing ‘It’s a Small World.’
from ‘The Ranger’s Dog Tags’

On the face of it, it isn’t funny.

But when I imagine my slim, 30-something, glasses-wearing, brown hair in a bun, heroine facing down an unknown opponent, wielding nothing more than a stuffed animal, it makes me smile.

By the way, the stuffed animal makes another appearance in a conversation between Harmony and Eli..

“The minute my dog tags came flying through the door, I knew you were here. And when you followed them, I thought I was in a dream. Or a nightmare. But never tell my mother you used her latest stuffed animal as a weapon.”

“I hope that song haunts him for the rest of his life.”

“You should ask your cop friend to have it piped into his cell on a continuous loop.”

I grinned. “Tempting. But wouldn’t that fall under cruel and unusual punishment?”

“He’d deserve every minute.”

The whole book was fun (but tough) to write, but this scene is one of my favorites. (Obligatory self-promotion: You can find out more about The Ranger’s Dog Tags at https://www.pjmaclayne.com/?page_id=6458.

I’m looking forward to reading the excerpts from out other authors. You can find them at the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe! 

Sept 1, 2025

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Share the funniest scene you’ve written. Alternatively, the scariest scene.

Investing In My Writing #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

August 25, 2025

What is the best money you’ve ever spent in your writing endeavor?

What is the worst?

The politically correct answer is that the best money I’ve ever spent is what I’ve paid to the various editors along the way. Having other eyes look over my manuscript, checking for errors I’ve missed, is worth every penny that I’ve spent. It’s also the easy answer. But thank you, Angela Pryce, Cornelia Amari, and Angel Nyx, among many others. (All of you out there on Critique Circle, you deserve kudos, too.)

But it isn’t my final answer. Some years ago, after being a vendor at a couple of cons and a craft show or two, I realized how many opportunities occurred outside. I had no desire to spend hours in the baking sun of a Wyoming summer.

So, I bought a canopy. Just a cheap one, but it’s done the job for seven or so years. I’ve never got the hang of putting it up by myself, but I almost always get help from a next-door vendor. (And help them in return.)

This year, I’ve used it at four outdoor events. (And sold over 70 books!)

I want to mention a runner-up. Some years ago, I was gifted a lifetime subscription to ProWritingAid. I can’t call it an investment because i didn’t pay for it. I use it regularly.

What is the worst?

I’ve paid for blog tours for most of my new releases, using well-known and reputable organizers. None of them proved successful. They brought nothing in sales, and only one or two reviews despite their efforts.

How about other authors? What were their best and worst investments? Find out by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

August 25, 2025

What is the best money you’ve ever spent your money on in your writing endeavor? What is the worst?

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Staying By My Side #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

August 18, 2025

Who stayed by your side during your hardest time in life?

If you’ve followed me, you may have noticed that I don’t talk a lot about my personal life.

And that’s on purpose. My family members are not fodder for my stories. They deserve their privacy. But the answer to this question demands that I break my rule and talk about my husband.

I can’t even say what the hardest time of my life was. Together, we’ve been through it. Together is the operative word. That we even met, let alone stayed together for over 50 years, defies logic. We’ve faced challenges you hope you never see happen—except to other people. Without him by my side, I don’t know if I could have handled everything life threw at us.

Again, I won’t go into details.

Let’s just say that someone once joked I should have been a doctor to deal with all the illnesses and conditions that the family has faced (now including the grandchildren.) But most of the time, I feel blessed with the life we have been given. (Or worked for and earned, depending upon your point of view.)

So, this is a short but well-deserved tribute to my husband. He’s stayed by me and supported me through everything. (Including incredible patience with what goes into my writing.)

No, that’s not us. We have some sweet pictures of us together, but remember the privacy thing?

How about the other authors on this hop? Who supports them? Find out by following the links below.

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August 18, 2025

Who stayed by your side during your hardest time in life?

What’s To Eat? #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

August 11,2025

Are you a breakfast, lunch, or dinner person?

What does your ideal meal look like?

For many years, I didn’t eat breakfast. I’d have a large glass of orange juice and call it good. These days I often treat myself with a bowl of flavored oatmeal, especially in the colder months.

And lunch? I have mixed emotions. I loved when we went out as a team (before I retired). But I had to be careful what I ate. If I splurged on pasta, I’d often get a midday slump, so I normally stuck to salads or other lighter fare. (Yes, I have figured out it was a symptom of a thyroid problem. It’s being treated now.) These days, lunch is basically whatever I can grab when I feel like it. Occasionally, the hubby and I will go out for lunch, when the mood strikes us.

That leaves supper.

Supper is always an adventure. There are three different dietary issues I have to accommodate. Trying to find one meal plan that suits everyone is basically impossible. So, I end up having a backup for the main dish. I refuse to serve chicken for every meal. Personally, I prefer Italian food. Spaghetti, lasagna, or anything similar. (One member of the household doesn’t eat any pasta, so

But the best thing about supper is that it signals the end of the day. A time to relax. No rush to get to work or the grandkids to school. A time to sit at the computer and catch up on email or reading.

So, I guess I’m a dinner person.

How about the other people on this hop? What’s their favorite meal? Follow the links below to find out.

 

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August 11, 2025

Are you a breakfast, lunch, or dinner person? What does your ideal meal look like?

 

Editing Is Hard #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

August 4, 2025

Tell us about a writing lesson you learned the hard way.

I released my first book in 2014.

Of course, I had sent it through several online editors and a critique group before I published it. But it didn’t take long for a reader to find and point out the first error. Later, I heard about another one. And another. A reviewer said my primary female character winked too much. And they were right.

Luckily, it was fixable. I found enough instances of the word near the end of paragraphs to switch them out without reformatting an entire page or chapter. But it was a lesson I needed. But it also led me to pay more attention to overused words.

But editing is more than grammar and spelling.

There’s pacing and story flow and continuity. (Does the main character start with blue eyes and end with brown ones?) Don’t forget eliminating cliched phrases. {She released a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding.) Then there’s using the same uncommon word more that once, too close together. Let’s use the word metaphorical as an example. Used once, it’s interesting. Twice, it’s a little less gripping. Used three times close together, it loses its power.

As you can see, editing is hard. There’s always more to learn. And, no matter how many eyes look at the manuscript, an error can slip through.

What lessons have our other editors learned? Find out by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

August 4, 2025

Tell us about a writing lesson you learned the hard way.

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Including Politics In My Stories #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

July 28, 2025

Do you avoid or actively include writing about the current political atmosphere in your stories?

Some folks view it as part of a writer’s job description; to write about politics.

But I write, in part, to give both myself and my readers a chance to escape from the real world. So politics, especially current-day politics, isn’t part of it. Also, including current events can date my work and make it less relatable.

That doesn’t mean I don’t include political references. For example, in the early books of the Harmony Duprie Mysteries, I mentioned that Jake Hennessey smoked marijuana. Once, maybe. When I wrote it, weed was illegal in the state the story was set in. That has changed, and if a reader picks up on the reference, they have to remember how things used to be.

I also skirted around politics in the first book of The Edwards Investigations, The Rimer Files.

Since it is set in the mid-1980s, many people won’t remember specific events from the time. Instead, I tried to create the mood of the era in Pittsburgh, where the story took place instead. Steel mills closing, rampant drug use, unemployment a major issue. Most people won’t be able to tell you who the president of the United States was then, although they might know who the Queen of England was. (Ronald Reagan, Queen Elizabeth II)

But the story more than touches on the issue of the changing role of women in society. It’s a major part of the plot, without going into details. What it doesn’t include are references to specific real people.

So, back to the original question.

Do I include politics in my writing? Like in so many things, I chose moderation. I don’t actively include politics, but I don’t avoid the topic either.

How about our other authors? Do they include politics in their writing? Find out by checking out the links below.

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

July 28, 2025

Do you avoid or actively include writing about the current political atmosphere in your stories?

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The Hardest Job I’ve Ever Done #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

July 21, 2025

Continuing on the topic of money —

What is the hardest thing you have done to earn money?

I’ve never dug a ditch for money, but I helped build a hiking trail (for free) when I was in the Girl Scouts. Dirty work, but fun because of the other girls working on the project. Being a camp counselor was hard, but basically was a summer-long camping trip and I enjoyed it.

Then there was the job I had cleaning a weekly newspaper office in a small town. This was back before the work was computerized, and the night before publication, there’d be the remnants of sticky paper all over the floor and desks. They had to be pulled or scraped off using a paint scraper. That would happen in the afternoon, after the final version of that week’s edition had been taken by car to a print shop in the neighboring city.

That evening, a small team of three would insert the week’s ads (The color ad pages came pre-printed to the office.) into the folded papers and put labels on the ones that were to be mailed. The address labels came on large rolls and were pasted on the papers using a machine controlled by a foot pedal. This was back in the day when the ink used on newspapers rubbed off on your hands, so imagine what my hands looked like when the tasks were finished!

Then there was my gig working at a sugar mill factory.

This involved sugar beets, not sugarcane. The beets came from local farms and would be brought to the factory by the trailer load. They would be ground up and processed, with white sugar being the result.

I had one of the easier jobs, collecting samples. I’d go to certain spots both inside and outside the factory, retrieving tubes of the partially finished product (in different stages of processing) and running a variety of tests on them.

One of the sample sites was outside, behind the factory, in a basically unlit area. Since I was working swing shift, the last sample of the shift was an adventure, requiring the use of a flashlight and nerves of steel.

But that isn’t why I left that job. I was a newlywed, and my husband was working revolving shifts at a different company. It seemed like we never got to spend time together. I didn’t mind the work, but hated being apart.

The worst job?

I did a short stint as a waitress at an extremely busy pizza/Italian restaurant. I’d worked at a small restaurant previously, and thought I knew what I was getting into, but was wrong. This new place was so busy that all I did was run. No time to interact with customers, just run, run, run. I lasted there only one week. And I don’t remember the tips being enough to make me regret leaving.

How about other authors? What is the hardest job they’ve done? Find out by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

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