March 9, 2026
How much of yourself do you share with your readers? How much do you hide?
It’s a balance.
Like deciding whether to work in introvert mode or the occasional extrovert presentation, how do I figure out how much of me I share?
Because these blog posts aren’t necessarily the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth. I am protective of my and my family’s privacy. I may write partial truths and add details that are not true at all. Or, I may just not mention a moment at all.
In a way, I am fiction
With a public image that may be playacting. When I put on my “signing hat,” I slip into my author personality. Real life takes a backseat to the fiction I want my readers to see. At the same time, I try to be open to my readers and yet hide parts of me at the same time. It’s the fine balance I mentioned in the beginning.
Is there anything new I’d like to share? Not about me. How about a snippet from from the book I’m working on. By the way, its current name is Edwards Investigations: The Donovan File. I’ve “only” changed it twice. This one stuck.
Here’s the clip. It’s unedited, so please forgive any errors.
The two block walk in the frigid February rain left Annie wishing for an umbrella or a rain coat, but both would get in her way. She stopped at the end of an alley and tugged her heavy black sweater closed before pulling on the cuff of her white blouse, the prearranged signal. As far as she could tell, everything and everyone was in place. She prayed that Mike had found a hiding spot.
She clutched a hollowed-out Bible wrapped in plastic. It held ten old-fashioned floppy discs—the big ones that were actually floppy. The trade was classified information in exchange for the life of the ten-year old girl.
“The Lord is my shepherd,” she muttered, then, exaggerating her limp, strode into the circle of brightness under the lone streetlight at the end of the alley. Her nose was assaulted by the odor of rotting meat and other days-old trash.
How much do our other authors share? You know the drill. Check out the links below to read their blog posts.
As always, please stay safe until next time.
Goal update: I made it to 43500 words. I feel good about it.
March 9, 2026
I love the extract. Like you, I have “me” and “writing me.” Never the twain shall meet.
Both the writer me and the me me are glad you enjoyed the clip.
Yes, I only share parts of me that I don’t mind other people reading. Readers will have to guess which parts are true and which are not.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who makes up parts of my life.