Today I am highlighting a fellow indie author, Millie Thom. Millie not only writes an active blog full of fun and engaging stories, she cranks out robust historic fiction novels focused on the Anglo-Saxons of the 8th and 9th centuries, and the role of Vikings during this time period. She lives in a village on the […]

Originally posted on A Writer's Path:
? How does a reader connect with a character? This is a well-debated question, and one that many authors have asked themselves. It can mean the difference between a novel’s life and death. “Which of us has not felt that the character we are reading in the printed page…

Question: Can a blogger who normally posts about writing, and words, and blah, blah, blah totally switch gears for a post and talk about food and recipes? Not recommended because a blogger must build her “brand” and only stick to one topic? Totally gauche and unprofessional and will result in never earning a blogger award? Defiance: TOO […]

Flash! Friday bit o’ fun, with prompts of: Man vs Nature, and… “Bring me another, would ya?” Stu didn’t take his eyes from the metal—it was as flaky as his grandma’s pie crust. He crouched in front of his boat, eyes squinting against the glaring sun as Vicki handed him the can. “What the hell […]

“You didn’t really?” I said, trying to keep the incredulity from my voice. I knew I’d failed when she drew her brows together in that irritating way that made me feel like I was shouting in a library. “Yes, I did. And I don’t think it was too much to spend, either.” “Are you shitting me?” […]

“You’re gonna make me wear that?” Rob jabbed a finger at the leather straps and brass studs dangling from the hanger. “That crap won’t even cover my meat and two veg!” “You’re wearing it.” I said, staring him down. “You go to the damn gym everyday, may as well show it off.” He spun away […]

Celeste stroked the pitted stone, her chilled fingers discovering lumps and patterns beneath the lichen that eyes could no longer make out. The granite held centuries of stories. So old. Yet, each year, the stone melted, threatening to return to its natural shape and lose all that history to the unrelenting wind and rain. She […]

No, I’m not talking about movie stars, nor the fiery balls of gasses we gaze at when the light pollution isn’t too strong. I’m talking REVIEWS. Yes, those little yellow stars we so casually click to show how we liked (or hated) the dinner we ate, the movie we watched, or the book we read. I don’t […]

A continuation from Part I, Black-Hawks and Bourbon, for Mondays Finish the Story “They finally made their escape, eh? But, they go from Black-Hawks, to Jeeps?” Kurt glanced up from the manuscript, squinting through his heavy-rimmed glasses. Were they even prescription? “Yes. It’s after the helicopters crashed at the edge of the Amazon, remember?” Kurt leaned back […]

“You mean the band with those four English guys—but not the Beatles. You know, with Pete Townshend?” Veetch said, frowning in thought. “That’s Who,” Britt said, pulling tight on his laces. “That’s what I’m asking. Is that who you’re talking about…those guys who wrote about the pinball kid?” “No.” Britt sat up and stared at […]

Haven’t a clue. Maybe the Lewis Carroll needed a good critique I’ve been writing and receiving critiques lately, as I signed up for Scribophile after winning NaNoWriMo–they had some goodie for winners so I thought I’d explore it. So far, I’m finding it quite wonderful. Now, as some of you may know, I am not the […]

“Silently as the people watched, the black hawk helicopter lifted into the air.” Kurt frowned. “Does that mean the helicopter is silent, or the people are silent? And shouldn’t ‘black hawk’ be hyphenated?” Sara sighed. Why had she ever gotten her degree in English? Why hadn’t she followed her mother’s advice and studied anything healthcare […]

A bit of Flash Fiction for Mondays Finish the Story. You may be inclined to think I do these Flash challenges because I’m a dullard and can’t think of my own blog posts without a prompt, and you’d not be entirely wrong. Yet, I also do it as I might do sprints if training for a […]

Who else has over done on the calories these last few days? I’m sure I’m not alone. Too much pie. Too much candy. Too much bouillabaisse. What? Bouillabaisse? Yes, we have that on X-mas eve at our house. Why? Because it’s delicious and decadent, much like the holidays themselves. Now remember, before Christ came along, […]

Mondays Finish the Story. Picture + half a sentence = fun flash fiction. “They say that life is a game of chess…”  And I’d agree if you’re talking about this chess board on my annual Caribbean cruise. Notice what’s missing? Same thing that’s missing in my life. All I ever wanted was that white knight […]

I’ve been working on a draft cover for my third novel, The Weaver’s Light. It’s fantasy, like my others, but not  young adult (though really, as far as I can tell, the only thing making a book “YA” is if the hero/ heroine is a young adult). Anyway, I’m asking for input again to help me perfect this masterpiece […]

It’s a Flash Friday–150 words based on a photo prompt. I’m having fun forcing myself to write a something worth reading in so few words; makes me examine every single word to make sure I need it. I also like to be a bit perverse in these challenges–take a an angle on the photo that’s a little left of center, […]

Yvonne flopped back into the pillows, eyes closing before her head met the feathers, a groan escaping as she laid her hands on her belly. What the hell was this, ‘perimenopause’ (whatever that meant) or fibroids in her uterus? These cramps were like something from a Stephen King novel–she hurt from her lower ribs to […]

      “Mondays Finish the Story” A flash fiction challenge where a photo and the first sentence of a story are the prompt. Even during NaNo month I can find time to pound out 100-150 words, right? I sort of like that restriction, as I tend to be on the wordy side, and having someone force me […]

A piece from my NaNoWriMo novel. Clir pulled the heavy leather gauntlet further up her arm, cursing. “That bird isn’t worth the wooden perch he roosts on!” Trainer Fugol raised her brow, but didn’t comment. Clir glared at the young besra sitting on her forearm. “Why must I continue to work with these inferior birds? […]

A little fun with today’s Daily Create where we were supposed to create the worst album cover. I don’t know if I succeeded. I kind of think the cover from Twisted SIster is worse. But that hair really takes me back… Tagged: ds106, silliness

The Creative Process–what is this elusive affair? How do we catch it? How do we coax it to life when we have a wicked sinus headache and our beds are calling? If you know, please message me. But what, you ask, does this intro. have to do with my title? Gentle reader, it is an […]

Boy I’m on a roll here, posting things that take next to no work at all, yet are thoroughly entertaining for my readers, I’m sure! Just wanted to let you all know I won a contest where I had to use my vast analytical and interpretive skills, battling against giant minds like Rain Rain (see […]

Originally posted on A Writer's Path:
If you’ve ever heard the phrase “less is more,” then this is the topic to dive into. ? “As to the adjective: when in doubt, strike it out.” – Mark Twain I want to be clear before we begin; I am not against modifiers (adverbs and adjectives). I…

As some of you know, NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) has started, which means my poor blog may be forsaken for the glory of the “win” (i.e. writing a 50K+ word novel in the month of November, and remember people, Thanksgiving is in the mix and my little family is hosting it, with out of town guests! Keep that […]

A bit of Flash for the weekly writing challenge which gave us the image below to act as muse. Extra challenge, what else did Edward Hopper paint that is as iconic as Nighthawks? Probably nothing, but he has some absolutely lovely pieces–check out the link…but don’t forget to come back and read as well. Joseph […]

Ah, Chaos, you mighty force of the universe against which humans have struggled for thousands of years–can you be organized? Whether its turning a wild, untamed wilderness into neat log-houses and gardens, or trying to pin down the nature of the wily quantum particle, we humans seem to think we can organize ourselves into a […]

Today’s Daily Create: Painting with light. I found a free app, LuxDraw, to create this…piece…which I’m calling “Intra-verse” (Could that be a fallopian tube? Heck if I know.) Fun to be able to paint without getting out a single brush or palate. Besides, I really needed to use my creative side of the brain today as it […]

More engaging than Hunger Games (but without all the child-killing), as magical as Harry Potter (without all the Harry)…what is it? O.K., O.K, I admit it. I’ve been a carnivorous plant, luring you in with my title and tag-line like an unsuspecting bug following the smell of something delicious—rotting meat. But my purpose isn’t quite […]