Tag: #writingCommunity

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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?

Changes In Draft2Digital #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

April 20, 2026

How many of you use Draft2Digital?

How will the new pricing structure affect you?

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the company, Draft2Digital provides tools and distribution methods to independent authors. It started business a little over a decade ago and has been expanding the services it offers since then. It is one of the companies I chose to go with when I began my journey as an author. At that time, it cost nothing to join. The only fee was the cut the company took out of each sale.

This past week, Draft2Digital announced major changes. First, there is an activation fee. (Previously, joining was free.) The changes also include a yearly fee if an author’s proceeds fall under $12 in the past year. If an author brings in over $100, that fee doesn’t apply.

How does it affect me?

Well, since I’ve been with them since the beginning of my publication efforts, I don’t have to worry about the activation fee. Without using that terminology, I believe they use it as a way to keep out the manuscripts produced by AI bots. It’s a goal I support. The announced activation fee is $20 and hopefully isn’t enough to discourage beginning writers. (In contrast, it used to cost $45 to upload a single manuscript to Ingram Spark for printing.)

The annual fee will make a minor difference to my budget. I don’t make enough money to meet the $100 target for free servicing of my account. My sales reach is tiny, but Draft2Digital gets me into various systems that offer digital access to libraries, as well as Apple. I’d hate to lose those channels of sales and access to readers.

I’ll have to give it time to see if the new policy works. There is so much competition in today’s book market that I’ll likely never know if it works to fight AI garbage. But it’s a start.

What do other authors think? Hear from a few by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

Goal update: I’m at 49,600 words. That’s after stripping several hundred from edits of early chapters. The tipping point is still eluding me. There’s four paths I can see, and I don’t know which to pick.

April 20, 2026

How many of you use Draft2Digital? How will the new pricing structure affect you?

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To Be Or Not to Be #Open Book Blog Hop

  By Open Book

December 8, 2025

Do you call yourself more of a philosopher or entertainer?

That’s a good question. One I’ve never considered.

But I’m pretty sure “the world” labels me as an entertainer. I can turn a simple incident into a long story. Someday, let me tell you about the house we toured that had a hole in the middle of the living room floor. Although I never came up with a logical reason for that “feature.” The home wasn’t old enough to be part of the Underground Railroad or whiskey running, although the idea of pot smuggling crossed my mind.

For the most part, my Harmony books were written to amuse the reader. There were occasions when I touched on more serious topics, but my primary intent was to have fun. I tried to sneak in the heavy bits where the reader wouldn’t stop to think about the message, that maybe it would hit them later. Or maybe it would never cross their mind and that’s okay too.

My wolf books tackle more serious topics.

Patriarchy. Jealousy. Breaking barriers. The topics are built into the stories, woven into the adventures. I try to present the discussion from both sides, to allow the reader to decide which side they agree with, while making it clear why the character involved chose the one they did.

That still doesn’t make me a philosopher. 

Which, at heart, I am. But I don’t like to force my beliefs on others. If a topic comes up in discussion, I’ll gladly give my input. I may temper my words if I feel like the others aren’t open to hearing my ideas. But I have lots of ideas, and they have changed and refined over the years. I’m still learning new things.

What about the other authors on this hop? Philosopher or entertainer? Find out by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

December 8, 2025

Do you call yourself more of a philosopher or entertainer?

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Ewoks and Redwoods #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

Oct 9, 2023

Has a book or movie ever been based somewhere you’ve lived? How did it compare?

Many years ago, the world was taken by storm by the phenomenon of Star Wars. A few years later, work started on the next film, the Return of the Jedi, and was eagerly waited for by fans.

Part of the film, the scenes with the Ewok village, were filmed near where I lived at the time. It was an open secret that the filming was happening, but I don’t know of anyone who tried to show up on the site. Parts of the filming took place at Jedediah Smith State Park, about 10 miles away, more of it on nearby private land.

And the backgrounds in the movie were realistic. Redwoods and the underlying bushes are marvels of nature. I often went for long walks in the various forests. Note: Part of the private land is now the site of a maximum security prison. Other areas, including the state parks, have been ravaged by forest fires. I don’t think any of the bigger redwood trees have been destroyed.

It’s hard to describe the impact of seeing a redwood for the first time. I’ve left a piece of my soul with them.

 

 

 

 

 

The scenes in the movie are enhanced, naturally, but they hold true the spirit of the area. (No, there are villages high among the trees. Not for humanoid creatures, anyway.)

I’ve lived in several area that have had books written or movies made about them (Cheyenne and cowboys, anyone? How about Daytona Beach?) but the redwoods are the most memorable.

How about anyone else? Where have you been that has been memorialized in a book or movie? Let’s follow the links below and see what the other authors share.

Until next time, please stay safe.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Oct 9, 2023

Has a book or movie ever been based somewhere you’ve lived? How did it compare?

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.

Icebreakers – And Not Of The Cocktail Variety #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

August 14, 2923

What is your favorite icebreaker (meetings, parties, dates, socials)?

Back when I was involved with training, I had a plethora of icebreakers in my ‘toolbox.’ Many of them would break today’s rules of personal space when done in mixed-gender groups. I wouldn’t dare suggest using the one where you stand in a circle, close your eyes, and reach to the middle of the circle to find someone else’s hand. (One for each hand, of course.) Then, as a group effort, the resulting knot must be untangled without ever letting go of the other hands. The results can be hilarious and anything but welcoming to lots of people. Yes, there was much close contact and occasional shenanigans needed to accomplish the goal.

Now, icebreakers are like ‘Introduce the person sitting next to you,’ and ‘Tell us two truths and one lie about yourself.’ I’ll have forgotten most of the names from the first one before I ever leave the room, depending upon how large the group is. And I like to keep my home life separate from my work life, so I make the answers to the second as basic and boring as possible.

Do I have a favorite icebreaker? Stop at my booth at a community event and tell me about your favorite author or ask me about my writing. Or tell me about yours. I’m happy to encourage a budding author or trade ideas with other writers on where to sell our work. In the last two weekends, I have developed a small list of potential spots to sell my books.

What this boils down to is that I despise ‘artificial’ icebreakers. How about the other authors on this hop? Find out by following the links below. 

Until next time, please stay safe.

August 14, 2923

What is your favorite icebreaker (meetings, parties, dates, socials)?

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.

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

Which Crayon Am I? #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

May 15, 2023

People are like a box of crayons, which crayon would you say that you are?

You know that crayon stuck in the back row? The one that’s cracked, but is still wrapped in paper? There are days that I feel like that crayon. Damaged, but useable.

That crayon can be hard to get out of the box, and is rarely gets pulled out. You may have to empty the entire box to get to it. 

 

 

The point may be dull but once in a while, you think it’s your favorite color. Until another color distracts you and you stick it back in the box. There it stays until you need it again. That’s me.

And you? Which crayon are you? Tell me in the comments. And don’t forget to check out the other authors by following the links below.

Until next time, please stay safe.

Don’t forget, The Rise of Jake Hennessey releases May 17th!

May 15, 2023

People are like a box of crayons, which crayon would you say that you are?

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.

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

The Best and The Worst #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

 

 

April 3, 2023

What are your best and worst social media sites?

I try, really I do. And I have gotten better since I retired and had more time available to spend on it. But I still don’t put enough energy into it to make it work for me. I haven’t tried every site, but I’ve settled on a few.

I’m talking about social media, of course. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram MeWe, and blogging. None of them have made me a best-selling author or overnight sensation. I pay lip service to each, but don’t concentrate on any of them. (Blogging is an exception. I put a lot of effort into these weekly posts.)

As an introvert, it’s hard for me to share my personal life on the internet. Add in my ties to computer program security, and it adds an extra layer to the need for privacy. It’s the exact opposite of what is required to be successful as an author on social media. 

I won’t call any of them the worst. Or the best. I’m equally bad at all of them. But I keep plugging away, hoping one site or another will eventually pay off. But I prefer to be actually writing!

FYI – I have finished the final edits of The Rise of Jake Hennessey. Watch this space for a cover reveal and a release date.

How do the other authors on this hop feel about social media? follow the links below to find out’ 

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

 

 

Stresses and Delights: A Writer’s View #IWSG

  By IWSG

 

It’s the first Wednesday of the month, and time for another Insecure Writer’s Support Group post. This month’s topic:
 
In your writing, what stresses you the most? What delights you?
The awesome co-hosts for the December 1 posting of the IWSG are PJ Colando, Diane Burton, Louise – Fundy Blue, Natalie Aguirre, and Jacqui Murray!
 
I’m going to bet that a lot of us are going to answer the first part of the question the same. What stresses me the most? Publicity! Well, publicity in general, social media more specifically.
 
I’m an introvert. I want to spend my times trying to make words sing. But I want people to read those words, so I have to make myself available to my audience. Some days it’s fine, other days I want to crawl into my writing cave and hide away, when I don’t have the mental stretch to skip past yet another Facebook ad.
 
On the other hand, I love doing in-person events where I can talk to people about my books and writing. I may be worn out at the end of the day, but it’ll be a good tired.
 
What delights me? A good review. Heck. almost any review. Knowing that someone cares enough about my story to take their time and share their thoughts with the world is a high compliment. And a 5 Star review can’t be beat. If you’re reading this, go review an author’s book. It doesn’t have to be mine. But hopefully, it’ll be one of the authors on this hop. You can find them in the list below.
 
That’s it for this month. I hope you’ll come back in January. Or sooner, to check out my other blog posts! Anyway, until next time, please stay safe.
 
 
 
What delights me? A good review. Heck, almost any review. Knowin

How Soon is Too Soon? #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

May 11, 2020

How soon is too soon to include a real-life event in a fictional story?

Let’s start with the most current event. You know the one I mean. I subscribe to a lot of book newsletters, and I cringed the first time I saw an ad for a self-help book with a quarantine related title. I think it was two or three weeks after most people in the US were asked to shelter at home. My first thought was – how does anyone pull together a meaningful book in that amount of time? And my second thought was – nothing like taking advantage of people in a time of crisis. Yes, I thought that was far too soon.

In the past week, I’ve started to see fiction books with titles like “Quarantine” and “Pandemic.” First, I despise the titles as being unoriginal. They certainly wouldn’t attract me to buy the book. Second, I wonder how well the book has been edited. Yes, I am aware that there are people out there that can write a book in less than thirty days, but I’m not among them.

What do I consider a reasonable time lapse to include a real-life event in a fiction book? It’s going to depend upon the event. For the tragedy of 9-11, it would have been at least a year if not more. For the space shuttle explosion, six months would have been a long enough of a wait. For the current virus? I can’t imagine turning it into fiction for entertainment while  up to 2500 people a day are dying from Covid in the US, let alone the figures world-wide.

Now the first moon landing? Shoot, go ahead and use that before the dust had even settled. A presidential election? Have at it. The capture of a criminal? I’ll give you a soft maybe, depending upon the crime. The murder hornet? Better get that book written before they become a real problem.

It comes down to how many people have been hurt by the event and how deeply.  I can’t imagine trying to profit from an event when people are still suffering. (Unless every cent of that money goes to organizations working to help the affected.)

My caveat to this discussion is that the author has to be mindful of their use of the event. Either disguise it appropriately, or make your use historically accurate. I don’t want to read about the first landing on the moon with fictional names.

So, that’s how I feel about it. Me, I avoid real world events with a passion. I don’t want to get them wrong. 

I’d love to hear about how you feel. Share your thoughts in the comments. In the meantime, I’m going to head over and see what the other authors in this hop have to say.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

May 11, 2020

How soon is too soon to include a real-life event in a fictional story?

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.

 

 

Making Fiction Out of Real Life #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

April 20, 2020

Talk about the setting of your book. Is it entirely imaginary or is it based on a real-life place?

As I say in my bio, I grew up among the rolling hills of Western Pennsylvania. I know that people refer to them as mountains, but after spending years in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, what you find on the East Coast are just big hills to me.

But I love the landscape. Growing up, I spent many hours exploring the woods and meadows, and dreaming up stories. I knew where the huckleberries grew and when they were ripe for picking. I knew where large patches of endangered ground pine hid in the shadow of the nearby hardwood forest. I stared down a whitetail buck from across the patch of grass where an old farmhouse used to stand. I watched pheasants flash by when I flushed them from their nests in the meadows and listed to wild turkeys call their mates. I tracked a field mouse searching for seed among the dry winter grass. From my third-floor room on hot summer nights, I fell asleep to the song of the whippoorwill.

Naturally, when I started writing, I drew upon what I knew best for my settings. Both my Free Wolves series and my Harmony Duprie stories lean heavily on that area. But I fictionalize the details.

For my wolves, I work on the theory that they don’t want people to know exactly where they are. Between the two main packs in the stories, their territories cover parts of two states and may occasionally bleed over into a third. (New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio) I try to not be accurate when creating their pack lands to honor their need for secrecy.

When I write my mystery stories, I deliberately don’t reveal which state Harmony lives in. It gives me the ability to play with laws and police duties, which can vary from state to state. What the sheriff’s department in a Pennsylvania county does differs from their counterparts in Ohio. And laws dealing with things like gun ownership and speed limits may not be the same. By not saying exactly where Oak Grove is, I can use whichever legal system makes the most sense for the plot.

That doesn’t mean I make everything up. I spent several hours studying road maps for one chase scene that took place north of Pittsburgh. I wanted the road numbers, intersections, and exists to reflect reality. I often search out average drive times between cities to create an accurate timeline.

It’s been a lot of fun ‘building’ Oak Grove, naming its streets and populating it with a variety of people. Some of those eccentric characters may or may not be based on people I’ve known in real life. And some may be tributes to people I’ve loved. It’s been a challenge to give the town the happiness it deserves, and still include the challenges that small towns all over America face.

Anyway, I hope the love I have for that part of the country comes through in my books. But before I take off to see what the other authors are sharing, I’m going to say it again.

Be safe, everyone.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

April 20, 2020

Talk about the setting of your book. Is it entirely imaginary or is it based on a real-life 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.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.