Tag: #EdwardsInvestigations

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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Is This The End? #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

April 13, 2026

From your story’s point of view, how does it feel when you, the author, writes “The End?”

It’s been a long time coming.

She started out with high hopes, ready to discover where the story idea would take her. When she started, I knew better than to believe she’d found the right beginning. The other stories on the computer warned me she had a habit of starting and restarting her writing. They were right. She started this one three times, then set it aside to work on another story. I despaired that I’d ever get written.

But she got back to me – eventually. And she restarted from the beginning. It was better, in my opinion,  but it wasn’t easier for her. She struggled. If she got two hundred words in a day, she celebrated. Once in a rare while, she’d break 500 words. Then there were days she wouldn’t even open me up.

I didn’t like being ignored. So, every time she sat at the computer, I’d nag her. It was her fault, really. She put a shortcut on her desktop, after all.

Well, she got to the end – eventually. Or almost. The other stories warned me. She hates ending a story. She’ll hold off as long as she can. Starting the editing before ever finishing is her favorite way to delay. Still, she’ll get there.

And when she does, when she writes “The End,” she’ll push her chair back and take the clichéd deep breath. I will cheer for her – for us. It’ll take a while until she’s done with me. Rumors mentioned five rounds of editing. That’s alright with me. She’s brought me to life.

How do the stories of our other authors feel when she writes “the End?” Find out by checking out their posts by following the links below.

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

Goal update. I’m at about 49,000 words. I’m inching closer to the end, but there’s a lot of loose ends to tie up. I wrote a bunch of red herrings.

April 13, 2026

From your story’s point of view, how does it feel when you, the author writes “The End?”

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Writing Tools I Want #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

Jan 26, 2026

What is a tool that you would like to get to help you do your writing?

(Gadget/software, etc. – even a knickknack for focus)

I’m in pretty good shape as far as basic writing goes, with a decent computer, a program to write in, a website, and a great internet connection. I’ve got access to a program to help me with spell checking and editing’ and a talented and dependable cover artist. What am I missing?

Now that I’m retired, I’ve considered formatting my own stories for publication.

I have more time, and my original formatter has given up the business. I’m learned a lot, and am getting pickier about how my written version looks. (Why the heck is it different between KFP and Ingram when formatting a PDF?) Plus, the cost is harder for me to justify. As print prices go up, it takes more to recoup the cost.

I’m aware of several, and the most popular one, Vellum, is only good for Macs, which I don’t have. But that’s my question for all of you who format your own work. What program do you use, or which one do you recommend? Please share in the comments.

So, I don’t have an answer. Help me figure it out.

Perhaps one of the other authors on this hop will guide me in their post. You can find them by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe. If you’re in the path of the current storm, Fern, I hope you are staying warm.

Goal update: I only added 1300 words this week, However, I received several helpful critiques on Chapter 1, and returned critiques. So, even though my word could was low, I got a lot done.

Jan 26, 2026

What is a tool that you would like to get to help you do your writing? (Gadget/software, etc. – even a knickknack for focus)

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Writing From Revisions #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

Jan 19, 2026

Have you ever taken something that you worked on very early in your writing journey and made it into a complete work later? Or do you plan to?

I didn’t come up with this prompt, but I feel as if it was written for me. (Thanks, K. Williams!)

If you follow me, you know The Rimer File, the first book in the Edwards Investigations, is a reworking of a book I wrote over a decade ago. (and never published.) That was back when I was trying to write romances. It was a good story, but not good enough, and I knew it. The language was stiff; the plot needed work, and most of the characters were not well-developed. The time frame was vague and dated without being historical.

I made several stabs at fixing it over the years. After each attempt, I put it aside, not satisfied. Finally, after I finished writing the Harmony Duprie series, I considered tackling it again. But I sat on it, letting it brew in my brain.

Then I realized enough real-time had passed that I could place the story in a semi-historical time frame. Time that I’d actually lived through, giving me inside information. Once that was settled, I knew I couldn’t place the original story in that period.

So now, I consider the original story as inspiration, and the new book is a tribute, not a revision, to that story.

The plot is different, and romance is a secondary part of the story, rather than a primary focus. The book is darker than anything I’ve written, but it’s true to the times.

The names of my two main characters remain the same, and a few other details carried over, but most of the story is new. Instead of being totally from my imagination, I researched to include historical places and events.

The 80s. Pittsburgh, PA. A man’s world. All Annie McGregor wanted was to nail a cheating husband and prove herself worthy of being more than a glorified bookkeeper. What she found when she opened the back door of the bar-of-the-night was so much more than she bargained for. A mutilated body that bore an eerie resemblance to her ex, and a stint in handcuffs.

I have one other story from my learning stage, back before I became published, that I still think about. Yes, it is a romance, so it would be a challenge. but I’m not ready to tackle it because I have other stories I want to finish first.

How about our other authors? Do any of their old works have a future? Find out by checking out their posts with the links below.

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

Goal update. I broke 30,000 words and have changed the title again. This one fits and I’m happier with it. (but I’m not sure about the last 500 words. I have to think about it.)

Jan 19, 2026

Have you ever taken something that you worked on very early in your writing journey and made it into a complete work later? Or do you plan to?

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Writing Plans for 2026 #IWSG

  By IWSG

The first Wednesday of every month is Officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day.  
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the

January 7 posting of the IWSG are Shannon Lawrence, Olga Godim, Jean Davis, and Jacqui Murray!

January 7 question – Is there anything in your writing plans for 2026 that you are going to do that you couldn’t get done in 2025?

Happy New Year!

I almost didn’t answer this question, because those of you who follow me may remember I answered this question a few weeks ago.

I’ve been working on the second book in the Edwards Investigations since I finished the first, over a year ago, but have made only slow progress. Well, except for the break I took to write Amos Headley, the short story I contributed to an anthology, Defending the Moonlight. That took longer than planned.

But I am determined to get this new book done before the Waterford Heritage Festival. Getting the first draft complete is doable, but I’m worried about the editing and formatting. I know how long that process can take.

I’m currently sitting at over 25,000 words. That’s half the book, and I’m adding 1500 to 2000 words or more a week. That’s decent progress. I did some editing on Chapter One, and although the plot is good, there’s a lot of tightening to do.

Writing is limited during the summer season because of the many community events I attend. I have several ideas for writing projects, but we’ll see which one moves me when I get to October. I’ve wanted to write another Wolves book for several years.

So, that’s as much as I’ve planned for 2026. Sounds easy, but life often tosses unexpected challenges at me. 

How about the other authors in this group? Check out some of the many writers on the list below.

As always, please stay safe until the next time.

Happy New Years! #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

December 29, 2025

Happy New Year! Set a goal for yourself and let’s track it through 2026 to see how it’s going.

I’ve said this before – I don’t do New Year’s resolutions.

But I actually have a resolution that has nothing to do with the New Year. I made it when the anthology I took part in was published. (Defending the Moonlight.) I had interrupted writing the second book in the Edwards Investigations series to work on my entry for for the anthology. I really want to get that book completed. And I want to get it done before the start of the book-selling season.

That gives me six months. I’m currently at just over 22,000 words. Getting the first draft done shouldn’t be a problem, God willing and the creeks don’t rise. (We’ve had over 2 feet of snow, freezing rain that accumulated over 1/4 inch of ice, and about 1/2 inch of rain in the past week and a half. My sump pump is hard at work. Another storm is predicted to descend on us on Monday.) With this weather, I should have plenty of time to write.

The time crunch is people to critique.

And edit. And format for publication. And for the various companies to push publish. I can’t control those. Not as much as I’d like.

But I can control figuring out the story. I keep finding bodies to add to the carnage, new parts of the puzzle, and now the pieces are starting to make sense. I’ve already written a chapter that I thought was the first one and now realize belongs closer to the end. I’m not adding those several thousand words in my word count.

So, that’s my goal. Get this book written and as far along in the process as I can get. Yes, my personal goal is to get the book into print by the middle of June, but I won’t count it against myself if that doesn’t happen. I will be unhappy if I don’t have the first draft finished. I’ll keep you updated.

What about the other authors who join the hop this week? What goals do they have? Find out by following the links below.

As always, please stay safe until the next time.

December 29, 2025

Happy New Year! Set a goal for yourself and let’s track it through 2026 to see how it’s going.

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The Joys Of Researching #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

December 22, 2025

What person/place/thing did you enjoy researching the most?

Much of my research has to do with various types of weaponry.

So many of my books deal with firearms. Harmony Duprie has a revolver, the smallest one she could possibly use and still go damage. My wolf shifters are armed with various types of military style guns. Jake Hennessey didn’t carry a gun, but the law enforcement officials he dealt with did. It was interesting, and I got lots of advice from experts I knew, but it was “temporary” information and nothing I retained.

The research I’ve done for the Edwards Investigations series is different. I’m referencing places I knew and times that I lived through. But I’m not just remembering my personal stories; I’m putting my memories into a historical context, looking at them from a different point of view. It’s fascinating.

But reliving my experience with the dawn of the personal computer era is the most engrossing. I played the original arcade version of pong, and used 5 1/4 floppy discs. I had a camera that used 3 1/2 floppies to store files. My experience with computers started in the days of DOS and stretched all the way to the current domination of Windows. Being able to put that into exact years wasn’t possible without lots of research.

So, it made sense to make the advent of computers part of the movement of the stories.

I can use it exactly as history writes it, or I can smudge the edges as needed. It’s not the main plot point (or is it?)  but it gives readers something to hang their hats on. I can play loose with other areas of the history as long as readers feel comfortable with pieces they experienced. Or they can google something I mention to verify it. (Although cell phones haven’t made an appearance yet.)

Although I build a strong foundation in Book 1, I’m expanding on it for Book 2.  What was the role of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission? When was the last time you heard anything about it? You’ll have to stay tuned, dear reader, to find out.

Let’s find out what other authors have been researching. Just follow the links below.

As always, please stay safe until the next time. And have a good holiday, whichever one you celebrate this time of year.

December 22, 2025

-What person/place/thing did you enjoy researching the most?

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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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Writing and/or Revising #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

Discuss: “Write the book you want to rewrite—

because most of writing is revising!

“Don’t agonize over every word in a first draft; that will only slow you down. Just write the story. Get it onto the page. Drafting is the stage where you capture the idea. Revising is where you figure out how to really tell the story well.” -Beth Kander, author of I Made It Out of Clay

When I started writing, I was a speed demon, throwing words on paper with little worry about their “rightness.” I just wanted to get the story in my head out of there and make room for more. And, as Kander notes, that meant those stories needed a lot of revision.

My earliest attempts didn’t result in what I consider publishable works. Not only was the writing stiff, but the stories themselves lacked merit. No number of revisions would fix them. One, I revised at least eight or nine times, including changing points of view, before finally giving up on it. Another, I started over from scratch after trying to revise it for a decade. (That resulted in Edwards Investigations: The Rimer File.) As I have said several times, the story wasn’t a revision of the first draft written long ago; it was a tribute.

My writing pace has slowed down in the past few years, and I suspect it’s because I can’t turn off my inner editor.

I struggle to find the right word – or a better word – or a better word than that – as I write. (Last night I spent 15 minutes deciding if I should use ghost, haunt, or haint.)  I worry about the order of sentences. I stress whether the story is going in the right direction, or if I need to go back and add a scene or take away a paragraph. Little things that I might not catch in a revision bother me. I have to go back and change them. Big things might never get written if I think they won’t work out.

And yes, I know what the advice is, not only from Kander and others. Write first and then spend the time in revisions. But editing as you go can be a hard habit to break.

Even writing these blogs takes me what I consider to be too long. I don’t want to come off like I know it all. I don’t. Not even close. At the same time, I want to be an encouragement to other writers. We’re all reaching for the same goal – to get our words seen by as many readers as possible.

I worry too much.

About getting things perfect, although I know I won’t. I want my words to mean something. To me, at least, and hopefully to others.

So, I suspect I will continue writing at a snail’s pace. It’s frustrating. And satisfying when I pull together a line that sings. It happens once in a while.

How about the others on this hop? How do they interpret this quote? Check out their posts by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

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March 17, 2025

Discuss: “Write the book you want to rewrite—because most of writing is revising! Don’t agonize over every word in a first draft; that will only slow you down. Just write the story. Get it onto the page. Drafting is the stage where you capture the idea. Revising is where you figure out how to really tell the story well.” -Beth Kander, author of I Made It Out of Clay