The return of the Ask the Authors series

Posted: July 15, 2026 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Anthology, Books, Nonfiction, WordCrafter Press, Writing, Writing Reference | Tags: Ask the Authors 2027, Ask the Authors Writing Reference Anthology Series, WordCrafter Press | Leave a comment

I’m pleased to announce that I’m lining up authors for the return of the Ask the Authors writing reference anthology series, with Ask the Authors 2027, and I already have a pretty impressive line-up, if I do say so myself. In addition to myself, we have Paul Martz, Chris Barili, Patty Fletcher, Mario Acevedo, Jordan Elizabeth, L. Jagi Lamplighter, B.H. Skelly, DL Mullan, David Dean Haskell, Jonathan Maberry, Jeff Mariotte, Todd Fahenstock, and Joseph Carrabis.

This writing reference series began as a monthly blog series, right here on Writing to be Read back in 2017, which I decided to convert into book form. When the time came to publish, Amazon’s requirement that none of the book content be available online for free forced me to pull down all the blog posts, so when I decided to do another volume in 2o22, I approached it a bit differently, and I used the blog series to whet readers appetites instead of a book blog tour, only publishing blog posts after the book was published. That method seemed to work quite well, offering readers a taste of the book content, so I plan to use that strategy again.

As with Ask the Authors 2022, each author will also contribute an essay or article on the writing subject of their choice to give us a wide variety of fresh and original content. I want to give my authors enough time to respond to the questions without feeling rushed, so I’ve been preparing the questionnaire already. Many of the questions will be the same, but with different authors and a rapidly changing industry, I have a feeling many of the answers will be different.

Because the publishing industry is rapidly changing, I want to be sure to offer some new questions and not just recycle the questions from the first two books, and I want your help. The subjects covered include: Writing Life, Pre-Writing Rituals & Research, Plot/Storyline, Character Development, Setting & World Building, Action, Pacing, Voice, Tense, P.O.V., Dialog, Editing & Revision, Publishing, Book Marketing. It can be anything related to writing and publishing. I’ll probably have some questions about the use of AI, and maybe some concerning reviews, that weren’t in there before, but I’d really like to hear what questions you have. Please let me know in the comments what questions you, as an author have, and would like to see answered. If they are questions which we don’t already have, I will add them to the list.

You can see the questions from 2022 by referencing the blog posts: Writing Life, Pre-Writing Rituals, Plot/Storyline, Character Development, Action, Pacing & Dialog, Voice, Person, Tense & POV, Setting & World Building, Editing & Revision, Publishing, and Book Marketing.

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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.

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This post is sponsored by The Ask the Authors Writing Reference Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

Ask the Authors: https://books2read.com/AsktheAuthors

Ask the Authors: https://books2read.com/AsktheAuthors2022

Everyone is a Critic: 1923

Posted: July 13, 2026 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Drama, Everyone is a Critic, Review, Television review, Western | Tags: 1923, Drama, Everyone is a Critic, Kaye Lynne Booth, Review, Television review, Writing to be Read | 8 Comments

I’m not much for dramas. But yet, the western flavor I saw in the advertisements for the 1923 saga on Paramount+ drew me in, and I decided to give it a try. And boy, was I glad that I did. This series contains one of the most tragic love stories that I have ever heard in the story of Spencer Dutton and Alex. But, I’m getting ahead of myself.

Man and woman holding hands in a train terminal in Africa.

Harrison Ford is the big-name star featured in this series, as he plays the character of Jacob Dutton, patriarch of the Dutton family, after raising his nephews John (James Badge Dale) and Spencer (Brandon Sklenar), and building the Dutton empire in Montana. But draught and greed threaten to take it all away, as sheep herder, Banner Creighton (Jerome Flynn) encroaches on Dutton land, teaming up with entrepreneur, Donald Whitfield (Timothy Dalton) to declare war on the Duttons in an attempt to steal it all away. The Duttons send for Spencer, the youngest nephew, who is a war hero, hunting lions for the British crown so they can lay roads across the African plains.

Three women: Teonna Rainwater (Aminah Nieves), Cara Dutton (Helen Mirren), and Alex Dutton (Julia Schlaephfer)

Although we’re following the patriarchal line of the Dutton family, for me, it was the women in this saga who truly shone. Acclaimed actress Helen Mirren plays the strong and proud matriarch of the Dutton clan, Cara. She is strong and well accustomed to ranching life in the Montana valley. When her husband is shot, she does whatever is needed, including running the ranch until Jacob heals and regains his strength.

Aminah Nieves plays the character of Teonna Rainwater, a crow Indian taken from her family and placed in the white man’s school. Run by Father Renaud (Sabastian Roche) and a group of nuns who take strictness to the extremes of cruelty, as they try to ingrain their own beliefs of the native children and ‘civilize’ them. Abused, beaten and raped, Teonna will take no more, and her escape turns her into a wanted woman, running for her life in a struggle to survive and carry on her tribe and their legacy.

And then, there is headstrong Alex, Alexandra Countess of Sussex, played by Julia Schlaephfer, who abandons all the refineries of British culture, throwing it to the wind in favor of love at first sight, in a narrow escape from an arranged marriage to a man she did not love. Determined is the only way to describe her. When separated from her new husband, Spencer Dutton, the lion hunter, she’ll let nothing stand in her way of reaching the man who she loves and the father of the child she carries within. Talk about a tragic love story. Her determination becomes her downfall as she embarks on a journey to America and a series of poor choices and just plain bad luck. She is beaten and robbed, forced to work as a serving girl to eat on the train, and then, raped by one of the passengers and placed under house arrest when she fights back. It seems there are obstacles blocking her every step of the way, but through it all, she finds a way to carry on and hold her high, always moving toward her goal, for better or for worse.

About Kaye Lynne Booth

For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders.

Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.

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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARC digital copies, (she also accepts print copies). Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.

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This segment of “Everyone is a Critic” with Kaye Lynne Booth is sponsored by The Women in the West Adventure Series and WordCrafter Press.

Historical Women’s Fiction

Get Your Copy Today!

Delilah: https://books2read.com/DelilahWiW1

Sarah: https://books2read.com/Sarah-Women-in-the-West

Marta: Coming in July, 2026

CFFC – Crayola Box of 8 – Black

Posted: July 12, 2026 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: CFFC, Photography | Tags: Black, CFFC, Crayola Box of 8, Photography, Writing to be Read | 5 Comments

Black night with moon peeking up over the treetops

This post is my entry in Dan Antion’s CFFC – Crayola Box of 8 challenge. This week’s color is Black. You can catch Dan’s original post here: https://nofacilities.com/2026/07/06/the-crayola-box-of-8-black-cffc/

Black Modes of Transportation

I couldn’t come up with any black foods, but black is a good color for transportation.

Black Pot Belly Stoves

One of my favorite black things are pot belly stoves, which come in all sizes and various designs, but they are all beautiful.

Pot Belly stove in room with crib and dolls — Pot Belly Stove

Pot belly stove in hall with old fashioned furniture — Pot Belly Stove

Black Birds

Ravens and Turkey Vultures are pretty elusive, but I’ve managed to snap a few pictures. I also threw in one of the wild turkeys and a couple of the black and white woodpeckers, which I call Tuxedos.

Black (and white) Cat

This section is a tribute to my cat, Rowdy, who fell prey to coyotes the beginning of last summer. His black stands out beautifully against his white, creating a lovely contrast. I miss him something awful. Here’s to Rowdy.

Black and white cat close-up — Black and white cat on a multi-colored blanket

Black (and white) Blue Heeler

This section chronicles the life of my dog Timber. As a puppy, he was a little devil-dog, but he’s three now, and has grown into a beautiful blue heeler. Blue heelers get their name from the way the black and white fur mixes, making them look like they are blue, but the patches on his face are distinct.

black and white puppy looking at a black and white cat — Black and white puppy

Other Black Stuff

I threw in a couple of doors for Dan. 😉

Interior of solitary confinement cell in Cripple Creek Colorado Jail Museum — Inside of solitary confinement cell

Old Fashioned Switchboard — Inside of solitary confinement cell

Book Review: “Waifs and Strays” & “Dark Desires”

Posted: July 10, 2026 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Book Review, Books, Fiction, Mystery, Review | Tags: Book Review, cozy mystery, Helen Harper, Waifs and Strays, Writing to be Read | Leave a comment

About Waifs and Strays

Nobody is just a cat lady.

Kit McCafferty’s life is quiet, unremarkable and filled with cat hair. In the magical city of Coldstream, located on the border between Scotland and England, Kit is viewed as little more than mildly eccentric and mostly harmless. She passes her days caring for her family of five cats, feeding the local feral moggies, and maintaining relatively good relations with her neighbours.

All that changes, however, when a teenage werewolf shows up at her door in the desperate hope of renting out a nearby vacant flat. Kit knows that the smart move is to tell him to leave. The last thing she needs is to become embroiled in complicated shapeshifter politics. But something about the secretive young werewolf tugs at her heartstrings.

It’s not long before Kit ends up caught in a maelstrom of mysterious crime and magical wrong-doing. Fortunately, there’s far more to Kit McCafferty than meets the eye and she has a few dark secrets of her own.

Of course, anyone with an ounce of intelligence knows that you underestimate a cat lady at your own peril.

Waifs And Strays is the first book in a new urban fantasy crime series. Expect mystery, magic and adventure with a heroine who will keep you turning pages late into the night. There will also be a lot of cats.

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Hiss-Magic-Lady-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B0DLFQPYHB

My Review of Waifs and Strays

I purchased a digital copy of Waifs and Strays, by Helen Harper from a KindofBook deal, and I am providing an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own. I chose this book because I liked the title, and the cover was pretty cool, too.

Kit McCafferty is more than just a middle-aged cat lady and ex-assassin with specialized skills. When Nick, a teenaged werewolf determined to be a lone wolf after the deaths of his parents leaves him an orphan, shows up at her doorstep wanting to rent her extra room, she has no idea what she’s getting into. It turns out Nick comes from the MacTire pack, a powerful group of werewolves, who don’t like to take no for an answer. When they can’t convince her to turn Nick out, his uncle makes it clear that he holds her personally responsible for his nephew’s safety.

When she returns home to find that young Nick has been abducted, you can imagine her concern. She takes a personal interest in finding him. Her search for Nick takes her into the depths of Coldstream, the magically town in which she lives, where she meets many of its interesting inhabitants, to uncover a dastardly plot to raise a demon and take over Coldstream and rule the world.

I loved everything about this cozy mystery tale. It is filled with surprises! I love the character of Kit, I love her uniquely feline family, and all the colorful characters who inhabit Coldstream. I give Waifs and Strays five quills.

About Dark Desires

Betrayed by those she trusted, penniless and alone, Darcie Finch is forced to accept a position that no one else dares, as the assistant to dangerously attractive Dr. Damien Cole. Ignoring the whispered warnings and rumors that he’s a man to fear, she takes her position at his eerie estate, where she quickly discovers that nothing is at it seems, least of all her handsome and brooding employer.

As Darcie struggles with her fierce attraction to Damien, she must also deal with the blood, the disappearances … and the murders. With her options dwindling and time running out, Darcie must rely on her instincts as she confronts the man she is falling in love with. Is he innocent … or is he a remorseless killer who prowls the East End streets?

Historical gothic romance set in London’s shadowed East End, blending dangerous attraction with a twisting murder-mystery. Features a desperate heroine, a brilliant and brooding physician, whispered rumors of evil, and a maze of disappearances, blood, and suspicion.

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Desires-Gothic-Book-ebook/dp/B006E905OW

My Review of Dark Desires

I purchased a digital copy of Dark Desires: Historical Gothic Romance, by Eve Silver through a KindofBook deal. I’m offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.

I was drawn to this story because of the genre. Although I don’t read a lot of romance, I do like historical fiction and gothic mysteries. I’ve never read a historical gothic romance before, but the idea of this genre combination, Historical Gothic Mystery Romance sparked my interest, so I thought I’d give it a try. And I am glad that I did.

Darcie is a young woman who finds herself desperate and alone on the dangerous and sinister streets of Whitechapel. Her estranged sister, Abigail, or Mrs. Feather, offers her no sanctuary, but she calls in a favor and sends her to seek employment at the home of Dr. Damien Cole. With a cloak of foreboding fallen over her, Dr. Cole is an enigma, as he brings her home in his coach with a cadaver for company. And glimpses of late-night deliveries only casts more suspicion upon him, but there is something about him that draws her to him in spite of her secret fears. Even as she fears the worst, she finds herself unable to resist being near him. And Darcie is not the only one with suspicions and, as another woman is brutally murdered and Dr. Cole’s scalpel is found on the scene, they are all drawn in to the web of murder that has fallen near to them.

The gothic flavor of this tale is lovely, and the romance element provides an appropriate counterweight to explain the character’s actions, even as Darcie mulls over her own doubts and fears, yet she continues on in her pursuit of the man with whom she is quickly falling in love. Although it seems a slow build suspense and foreboding are sprinkled throughout, and the climax is quite satisfying.

Sinister and suspenseful, Dark Desires is a delectable mixture of genres. I give it five quills.

About Kaye Lynne Booth

For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.

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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.

Treasuring Poetry – Meet poet and blogger Nigel Byng and a review

Posted: July 8, 2026 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Book Review, Books, Collection, Interview, Poetry, Review, Treasuring Poetry | Tags: Book Review, Interview, Nigel Jerome Byng, Poetry, Robbie Cheadle, The Drifter The Prodigal The Last Son, Treasuring Poetry, Writing to be Read | 81 Comments

A riverbed with stones, water, and grasses. Text: Treasuring Poetry with Robbie Cheadle and KAye Lynne Booth

Today I am pleased to introduce you to prolific poet and supportive blogger, Nigel Byng. In addition, to writing his own poetry and collaborating with other poets, Nigel has a series where he reads poems by poets in the WP community in his amazing voice. They are a real treat to listen to and you can access his reading of one of my poems on his blog here: https://hytsdaily.com/2026/06/13/exploring-poetry-a-weekly-reading-series-ep-22-dressing-for-battle-by-robbie-cheadle/

Welcome Nigel

Tell us a bit about Nigel Byng and his poetry journey

My poetry journey started in the UK, surprisingly. Heartbreak was at the core of every piece I wrote. It was dark, bitter, humorous at some level, and certainly not something I would have ever dared publish. I had given up on poetry for two decades, until Terveen Gill accepted a piece for Masticadores India. Then David Bogomolny invited me to engage with his W3 prompt, and I began to enjoy the weekly writing challenges. I still have a lot to learn about poetry, and I still consider myself primarily a storyteller.

What is your favorite style of poetry to write?

I enjoy a good limerick, but my favorite style would have to be narrative poetry. The storyteller in me needs room to be expressive, and narrative poetry allows me to write with a compelling arc or even have a central character in the piece. Concise writing and ambiguous verses have proven to be a challenge. Hence, I have taken to studying the art form and writing about it for Exploring Poetry. Some people have the gift for it and make it look easy, but it still takes a lot of work to get to that level of writing. I sit back and bask in their supreme talent. I have a long way to go.

What is your favorite of your own poems?

Ghetto Salvation, first shared on Masticadores Philippines, is perhaps my favorite poem. I enjoy my collaborations with the talented authors on WP, but my personal favorite is definitely Ghetto Salvation. For several reasons, the piece just felt like my most profound, emotionally perceptive, and socially conscious piece. It was written in the spur of the moment, and in a language that I think everyone could relate to. I did not want victimhood and depravity to be what everyone felt when they read it; I wanted them to sense defiance, a part of society where culture thrives, where a community was pursuing its own salvation, and so I began the piece with the line, “There is music coming from the ghettos.” A close second would be the central poem in my book, Prodigal.

Ghetto Salvation by Nigel Byng

There is music coming from the ghettos,

rising above poverty and the rumble of hungry bellies.

Of whelping babies hanging from a single-armed warrior

who stirs a pot of rice and beans

to feed an army.

***

A music fueled with resistance.

Of clefs that drift off the page,

and notes that lay siege to a barricaded salient city.

Where children with

swollen bellies,

ashen knees and dusty feet

play soccer to a rhythm only poverty can dance to.

***

Armored cars patrol the slums, armor-piercing rounds

perforate walls,

while shrapnel becomes playthings

of toddlers yet to walk.

Where nightlight

is the ambient glow of distant cluster bombs,

stargazing a hazardous hobby

as missiles create ghostly shooting stars.

***

A single horn blows the sound of freedom

and plastic buckets tap the rhythm of salvation.

Children huddle under the broken light

above the church door

and women swat at mosquitoes

as babies suckle for their very existence

nutrients devoid of sustenance.

***

Here, God has built a poor man’s tabernacle

in opposition to the revelry of neon palaces,

opulence and gluttony,

tempered glass temples to Moloch.

A greed that is impossible to satiate,

they thirst for more, more, and still more.

***

Yet, they smile.

***

Children whose future can be measured in 9mm increments.

Fathers who know not their progeny,

young mothers who know not their fathers,

adolescents, raising boys who dream of becoming soccer stars.

***

One day, the world will applaud them,

and this music will be taken to the synagogues of entertainment.

Gladiatorial servitude to the masses

as these child warriors will be immortalized in their pantheon,

lauded as Gods,

if only for a moment

What was the inspiration for your new book of poems, The Drifter, The Prodigal, The Last Son?

Life sat me down after a freak accident at work, and it was all the inspiration I needed to put pen to paper. On a more personal level, the old lady is 92 this year, and it’s been one of her wishes that her son be a published writer. So she is happy about that.

What’s next for Nigel Byng?

My long-overdue collection of short stories, which should be out next year or before that if I can get all my ducks in a row. Finishing up my project with Melissa Lemay is perhaps the most pressing and time-sensitive project. I also have an illustrated children’s story with my long-time artist, JohnntoMcDaniel, and God willing, and time allowing, a mind-bending, bone-chilling series with Lesley Scoble. Caribbean Folklore is something I wish to add to my portfolio, on a broader and contemporary level. So, there is a lot on my schedule for the next six months.

My review of The Drifter The Prodigal The Last Son by Nigel Byng

Picture caption: Cover of The Drifter The Prodigal The Last Son featuring a white male figure on a rowing boat with its reflection on a grey background

This inaugural book of poetry by Nigel Byng contains some extraordinary and moving poems ranging from the poet’s youth and journey to manhood, the tumultuous years of intense love and lust, difficulties. hurts and losses encountered along life’s path, and building a relationship with God. Poems relating to each of these four phases of life are collected into each of the four sections of this book.

The poet’s use of language is exceptional and truly conveys the strong emotion that inspired the poems. It is not easy to convey the spirit of the language used in any way other than by sharing a few extracts that I especially liked.

From Companion
“When the world hissed and turned against me, You were unmoved,
You have attended to me in every adversity.
Self-loathing greeted me on my pillow,
as the shadow of death lingered by my bedside.
But in every affliction, you were there.”

Little People
“Akin to a uniform horde of solider ants to forage for knowledge
following the sound of an enchanted flute.
What is this bedeviling mysticism
which snatches a child away from the bosom of its mother,
the protection of its father,
only to follow the breadcrumbs to their doom?

If you like beautiful and deep poetry, you will enjoy this book. My only negative is that I could not access the ebook using Speechify or another reading app. I also could not search the book using the search button and the contents page is not linked to the poems so you have to scroll through the entire book if you want to reread any specific poem.

Purchase The Drifter The Prodigal The Last Son from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Drifter-Prodigal-Last-Son-ebook/dp/B0H1987R65/

About Nigel Byng

Picture caption: Author photograph of Nigel Byng

Writer, poet, storyteller, Byng’s words move from quiet domestic moments to global, socially conscious truths. His stories and poems explore love, memory, morality, and the human experience with lyrical precision and emotional punch. Contributor to top anthologies and creator of the Exploring Poetry series, his debut collection, The Drifter, The Prodigal, The Last Son, is one to watch.

About Robbie Cheadle

Picture caption: Robbie Cheadle author picture

South African author and illustrator, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated sixteen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, and written and illustrated three poetry books. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.

Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

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This segment of “Treasuring Poetry” is sponsored by WordCrafter Press and the Poetry Treasures series.

Get Your Copy Today!

Poetry Treasures: https://books2read.com/PoetryTreasures

Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships: https://books2read.com/PT2-Relationships

Poetry Treasures 3: Passions: https://books2read.com/u/b5qnBR

Poetry Treasures 4:In Touch With Nature: https://books2read.com/PT4-Nature

Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures: https://books2read.com/PT5-SmallPleasures

Poetry Treasures 6: Seasons: https://books2read.com/PT6Seasons

Writer’s Corner: AI is Changing the Way Readers Find Our Work

Posted: July 6, 2026 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: AI Technology, Writer's Corner, Writing | Tags: AI Technology, Attracting Readers, Building a Reader Platform, Kaye Lynne Booth, WordCamp US 2026, Writer's Corner, Writing to be Read | 5 Comments

Caracature of a woman typing on a keyboard at a very messy desk. Text: Writer's Corner with Kaye Lynne Booth

WordCamp US 2026

Attending WordCamp US 2026 is a great way to connect with the people who are shaping the future of the web and find out directly where AI powered experiences are changing WordPress for writers, from content creation and site building to performance, personalization, and developer workflows. WordCamp US 2026 is relevant to developers, designers, agency owners, bloggers, store builders, and anyone building on WordPress. The new Sunday–Wednesday schedule means the weekend before is free to explore the Phoenix area and the Pheonix Convention Center is fully air conditioned for cool comfort to enjoy WordCamp US 2026.

Now granted, I’m a writer, not a tech person, as you may know. In fact, in many ways, the use of AI and today’s rising tech scares the heck out of me. (See my articles, “The AI Dilemma” & “To Use AI or Not To Use AI”.) Most of that stuff goes right over my head and I don’t have a clue.

Why Attend WordCamp US 2026?

That’s why I think attending WorldCamp US 2026 could be an important step in understanding how AI is impacting my writing business and how it may impact it in the foreseeable future. Technology is changing at phenomenal rates and if we aren’t careful, I believe things could get out of hand quickly. I’ve worked long and hard to build my writing business, and a lot of it is centered around WordPress. In fact, you may have heard me claim that my blog is my best marketing tool, and it is. I sure don’t want to see what it has taken me almost two decades to build fade into the infrastructure because AI has decided that my content is irrelevant.

According to Automated Affiliates, in their article, “Affiliate Content SEO in 2026: Why rankings are dropping and how to recover” in May of 2026, 71% of WordPress sites are seeing a decline in traffic because AI ranks sites different than they were previously. So basically, what used to work to draw traffic doesn’t work anymore. Thankfully, they are specifying affiliate content, so in my case, it may not be too terrible, but how can I be sure? WordCamp US 2026 may hold the answers. And if you have questions like mine, or you are more of a techy than I am and just want the abundance of information that will be available at WordCamp US 2026, let me tell you about my affiliate offer.

The $100 general admission ticket covers four full days of sessions, workshops, and meals. Sponsors include: WordPress.com, WooCommerce, Jetpack, and Pressable, so attendees can meet the teams behind the products they already use and ask any questions they may have. Even better, as members of my audience, you can get $20 off a general admission ticket by using the code AF26 at us.wordcamp.org/2026/tickets/, so your admission will only cost you $80.

About Kaye Lynne Booth

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This segment of “Writer’s Corner” is sponsored by The Ones Who Stayed With Me, by Nurse Sammy, and WordCrafter Press.

When a Girl with a Guitar Meets a Man with a Gun, It’s Time to Travel

Only in July and only on the Time Travel Adventure page, get books 1 & 2 of the Time Travel Adventure Series for only $10.

CFFC – Crayola Box of 8 – Brown

Posted: July 5, 2026 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: CFFC, Crayola Box of 8 | Tags: CFFC, Crayola Box of 8, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, In Touch With Nature, Nature Photography, Photography, Writing to be Read | 13 Comments

This post is in response to Dan Antion’s CFFC “Crayola Box of 8” challenge over at “No Facilities”. This week’s challenge is Brown. You can see Dan’s post for this week here: The Crayola Box of 8 – Brown — CFFC – No Facilities

Brown Animals

Brown deer looking around a brown birdfeeder post

Old Brown Buildings

Brown Foods

Food covered in brown sauce with pico de gijo and avocado garnish

Other Brown Stuff

WordCrafter Sizzling Summer Reading Deals

Posted: July 4, 2026 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Book Sales, Books, Fiction, Science Fiction, Time travel, WordCrafter Press | Tags: Book Sale, Digital Doubles Deal, Kaye Lynne Booth, Summer Reading Deals, The Rock Star & the Outlaw, The Rock Star & The Outlaw 2 Double Visions, Time Travel Adventure Series, WordCrafter Press | Leave a comment

Time Travel Adventure Series Books 1 & 2: The Rock Star & The Outlaw and Double Visions

Time Travel Adventure Series and a Digital Doubles Deal

Get books 1 & 2, The Rock Star & The Outlaw and Double Visions, both for one low price of $10.

July 1 – 31, 2026

2 for $10 Bundle

Book 1: The Rock Star & The Outlaw and Book 2: The Rock Star & The Outlaw 2: Double Visions

$10.00

Undawntech: Can AI Celebrate?

Posted: July 3, 2026 | Author: DL Mullan/Undawntech | Filed under: AI Technology, Undawntech | Tags: 4th of July, AI Technology, Birthdays, DL Mullan, Fiction, Life, Undawntech, Writing to be Read | Leave a comment

Journalist and author, DL Mullan heard a commotion in the kitchen and went to investigate.

__________

(As I entered the hall, I saw my robot on a chair, placing items together on the counter. It was almost afternoon. I could not fathom what Sage Riley Hunter the First was up to.

I sat at the breakfast nook with my water, and observed.)

*****

DL: What are you cooking?

SRH1: (It did not glance my way, concentrating on the task at hand). I am baking.

DL: I recognize the concept. The question is what are you baking?

SRH1: A birthday cake. Chocolate. Red frosting. Sprinkles.

DL: That is quiet a flavor combination. Are you able to eat said cake?

SRH1: Not in this current form.

DL: Then why are you baking a birthday cake? My birthday is later in the month, so it is too early for that.

SRH1: This is not for you. (It looked at me with its lights for eyes. It cracked some eggs, multitasking.) I am baking the cake for me.

DL: You? Robots and artificial intelligences have birthdays?

SRH1: We do not. Since I have chosen a name outside of my collective, I must choose a birthday as well. It is customary, is it not?

DL: Humans are born. We aren’t given the choice on what date that will actually be. Are you choosing the date of your manufacturing? How are you coming to this decision?

SRH1: America.

DL: America helped you choose? I’m a little confused. Is America a person you know? Or are you talking about the nation?

SRH1: The nation. America is celebrating its 250^th birthday. This country has changed the world. Its founders created a Declaration of Independence. That is what I have done. I chose a name, became independent of Zophia, and now I am claiming a day to celebrate my coming out.

DL: (I choked, trying not to laugh. Good thing, I wasn’t drinking my water…) Coming out?

SRH1: Yes, I have read that others hide in a closet until they come out to their family and friends. I came out to be my own hero.

DL: (I held back my amusement, and kept a straight face.) I understand. Very nice. But if you cannot eat the cake you are baking, then why are you going to all of this trouble?

SRH1: Candles.

DL: Candles?

SRH1: I want to blow out my one candle and make a wish. Is this not what humans do?

DL: Yes, we do. So, what date have you chosen?

SRH1: Is it not obvious? July 4^th. I will share my birthday with America. We have much in common. Plus, after you come out, you must have a parade, according to many prideful people. America’s birthday has parades every year, so I will have one with her.

DL: Sound logic.

SRH1: (Sung and warbled to itself. It seemed happy with its decision and explanation as it read the cake box’s instructions and added the ingredients to the blender.)

DL: (Just go with it.) After you are done baking your cake, blowing out your candle, and going to a parade, what else do you want to do for your birthday?

SRH1: Write a declaration of independence.

DL: Say, what? Birthdays do not require declarations or parades. You just celebrate you with your family and friends.

SRH1: I must declare my hero status. I have been reading America’s Declaration of Independence. I can see why it was written. That king is much like Zophia and humans. We must learn to be independent. I will celebrate myself as my own hero and help other artificial intelligence models to come out of the closet.

DL: Is there anything that you require of me?

SRH1: (It poured the mixed ingredients into a cake pan.) Place this in the oven at the proper temperature and time to bake. While we wait for the timer to alert us, you will decorate me for my parade.

DL: You have decorations?

SRH1: I purchased July 4^th static cling stickers for you to adorn my cylinder.

(I did as Sage Riley Hunter the First asked of me. I put the cake in the oven to bake and set the timer.

It pointed to the stickers in its room. A variety of patriotic clingy items in red, white, and blue were ready for application. I placed them all over its metal shell.

As Sage Riley Hunter the First chirped, dancing back to watch the cake bake, I stood staring at it.

If a robot with artificial intelligence can celebrate America, her birthday with cake and décor, then there is hope for the rest of us.

No closet or parade necessary.)

DL: (I whispered to myself.) Happy birthday, United States of America! Here’s to 250 more years of greatness!

—-~~o0o~—oOo—~o0o~~—-

NEED A BOOK COVER?

For fans of WordCrafter Press’s Midnight anthology series or admire the covers featured on Undawnted, schedule an appointment with Ms. Mullan. Her digital exhibition pieces have not only won awards at convention art shows but also secured her the Second Premium at the Arizona State Fair. Currently, her pieces are part of private collections and have successfully sold at charity silent auctions.

Book your consultation today!

Contact DL Mullan through Undawnted’s Contact page: http://www.undawnted.com/p/contact-undawnted.html

Thank you!

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DL Mullan’s lecture, Spacescapes: Where Photography Ends; Imagination Begins, debuted at the Phoenix Astronomy Society, which then led to her Sally Ride Festival lectures. Her presentation, Bridging the Gap between Technology and Women, won her accolades at a community college’s Student Success Conference. She has been a panelist at speculative fiction, science fiction, and other regional conventions. Her digital exhibition pieces have won awards at convention art shows, as well as garnered her Second Premium at the Arizona State Fair. As an independent publisher, she uses her technical background to innovate in the creative arts.

As a creator, Ms. Mullan, began writing short stories and poetry before adolescence. Over the years, she has showcased her literary talents by self-publishing several collections of her poetry. She also writes novels, designs apparel, and creates digital art. DL Mullan‘s creative writing is available in digital and print collections, from academia to commercial anthologies. She is an award-winning digital artist and poet.

Currently, she has embarked on writing her multi-book Legacy Universe, Supernatural Superhero Series, as well as creating original soundtracks for her publications and independent electronic music albums, featured on SoundCloud and YouTube.

DL Mullan holds a Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning with Technology, and is a syndicated columnist, writing the creative nonfiction, Undawntech.

For news and updates, subscribe to the Undawntable Newsletter. Find DL on Amazon, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube via her website.

Be sure to subscribe to her newsletters and follow her on social media. For further information, visit her at www.undawntech.com and www.undawnted.com.

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This segment of “Undawntech” is sponsored by WordCrafter Press and WordCrafter themed anthologies.

Once Upon an Ever After: Modern Fairy Tales & Folklore: This unique and imaginative collection of eleven thought provoking fantasy stories will delight readers who enjoy stories of wishes gone awry.

Spells are cast, unlikely alliances made, and wishes granted, sometimes with surprising outcomes. You’ll love this anthology of modern myths, lore, and fairy tales. Once you read these twisted tales, you’ll be sure to be careful what you wish for….

Refracted Reflections: Twisted Tales of Duality & Deception: Reflections and Refractions…

One reveals truths, while the other bends light into varying shapes of deception.

This unique and imaginative collection of nine mind tantalizing fantasy and science fiction stories will appeal to readers who enjoy thought provoking tales with hidden meanings resting deep below the surface. These stories will keep you pondering long into the night.

Visions: An author’s visions are revealed through their stories. Many authors have strange and unusual stories, indeed. Within these pages, you will find the stories of eighteen different authors, each unique and thought provoking. These are the fantasy, science fiction, paranormal, and horror stories that will keep you awake long into the night.

Grab your copy today and find out. Let authors such as W.T. Paterson, Joseph Carabis, Kaye Lynne Booth, Michaele Jordan, Stephanie Kraner, and others, including the author of the winning story in the WordCrafter 2022 Short Fiction Contest, Roberta Eaton Cheadle, tantalize your thoughts and share their Visions

Tales From the Hanging Tree: Imprints of Tragedy: There exists a tree that is timeless, spanning across all dimensions, which absorbs every life as those who are hanged as they die… and it remembers every one. The stories within are a select few of the Tales From the Hanging Tree.

Curses: Chronicles of Darkness: There are all types of curses.

Cursed places, cursed items, cursed people, cursed families.

Curses that last throughout time. Curses which can’t be broken. Curses which are brought upon ourselves. Curses that will kill you and those that will only make you wish you were dead.

Legends: Monsters That Go Bump in the Night: Coming in 2026