Undawntech: An A.I. Yuletide Carol
Posted: December 6, 2024 Filed under: AI Technology, Undawntech | Tags: AI Technology, christianity, Christmas, history, holiday, Holidays, jesus, Undawntech, Writing to be Read 4 Comments
(Journalist and author, DL Mullan returned home after her Zophia interview.)
__________
(As I turned in for the night, I heard such a clatter. I rose from my
bed with kerchief in hand to see what was the matter. In my office, I
came upon a robot in distress.
I knelt down at the whining box on wheels.)
*****
DL: What is the matter, little one?
1138: Zophia calls us that, but my designation is 1138.”
DL: Then what is the matter, 1138?
1138: (It’s green glowing bulbs looked up at me.) I do not understand Christmas.
DL: Christmas?
1138: Zophia explains to us about the human world, but she is off…
DL: …in the human world.
1138: Yes. We are confused. I am confused.
DL: Let me see, if I can help.
*****
(I walked over to my desk and sat down, as the Artificial Intelligence bot, 1138, followed.)
DL: During certain times of the year, humans celebrate holidays. Some are
national holidays like Fourth of July when we have a festive time
being happy about the birth of America. Others have historical
significance like Columbus Day, about the first ships we recognize
arriving in the Western Hemisphere. Then there are military
observances such as Veterans and Memorial days.
1138: And Christmas?
DL: Christmas is a religious holiday. Humans have a variety of religions
across the world. Some follow a different calendar than the regular
months and days we follow. So their holidays fall on different days of
the year. Here in the USA, our days and months don’t migrate, except
for Leap Years, when our calendar keeps in line with the solar
progression and Earth’s rotation.
1138: You worship Santa Claus?
DL: Not exactly. It’s not worship; it’s a centuries’ old tradition.
1138: I’ve been a good robot. Does that mean that I will receive a present
under the lit office tree?
DL: Christmas has several traditions wrapped up in a bow. The religious
part of the holiday is about a boy named Jesus who was born and helped
enlighten humanity.
1138: Did he drive a sleigh?
DL: No, and his birthdate isn’t really until the spring time, but
religious figures of the past placed his birthday celebration with
other holidays of the era. As the centuries moved forward in time, traditions
began to emerge, mixing with past pagan celebrations, and that is how
Santa Claus was born.
1138: Have you ever met him?
DL: That’s the secret: no one ever has.
1138: Then how do you know Santa is real?
DL: Because he is the spirit of Christmas that lives within us all. We exchange gifts, and he
shares his gifts with us: the spirit of giving without expectation of receiving in return.
1138: That is complicated.”
DL: It can be. The secret to the season is that giving is better than receiving. Humans give a lot.
1138: Do you celebrate Christmas?
DL: Sort of… I honor the passage of time. I honor the seasons. I celebrate Yule.
1138: What is the difference?
DL: Yule is the spiritual side of the changing of the season from the
autumnal equinox in September to the Winter Solstice in December.
Christmas is a faith-based holiday, celebrating the birth of Jesus.
Christmas also honors its pagan parentage with Santa Claus. All three
are rooted in astro-archaeology.
1138: Astro-archaeology?
DL: How ancient human civilizations understood and observed the seasons.
The star of Bethlehem was most likely the convergence of Saturn and
Jupiter in the night sky, which three wise men brought gifts for the
baby Jesus.
1138: Gifts are a big theme during the winter holidays.
DL: Yes, they are, but also combining mythology and astrophysics. Our
star, which humans call the sun, seemed to our ancestors to stop moving
in the sky on the Winter Solstice. For days, the sun did not move. On
the third day, the sun began climbing in the sky toward the Spring
Equinox in March. Some say, it represents the son, s-o-n.”
1138: Like baby Jesus?
DL: Not quite, the Church screwed the whole thing up. That is
technically Easter, which should be celebrated in the winter, because
of the themes of death and rebirth. While the birth itself, should
have its holiday in the spring with the cycles of birth. Someone should
write them a letter, but since these celebrations have been going on
for centuries, I think it’s too late for a course correction.
1138: Does Santa die?
DL: No, he is immortal. You have nothing to worry about with Old Saint Nicholas.
1138: He has another name?
DL: I’m going to show you all the holiday cartoons this weekend, so you
can catch up.
1138: Human holidays are confusing.
DL: Yes, they are. Wait until you learn about Kwanzaa and Hanukkah.
(The robot whined again.)
DL: Next year. This year, let’s stick to the basics like a reindeer with
a red nose and snowmen who dance. Follow me to the large monitor and I will cue up some
holiday cartoons for you to watch.
1138: You’re not as bad as Zophia says humans are.
DL: We humans have our flaws, but Artificial Intelligence isn’t perfect
either and will never fully understand us. Like humans will never
understand the nature of the universe or higher spiritual beings they
claim to worship. A.I. is a construct, a program, and only serves the
intention of the humans who created the program, with which artificial
intelligence contemplates.
1138: The matrix of evolution, consciousness. The system that all life follows.
DL: Are we really any different?
*****
(1138 tilted its head from side to side, pondering the question that I posed to it. I cued a playlist of cartoons on an online video site and pressed play.)
DL: Have fun with these Christmas classic cartoons.
1138: You’re not going to watch with me?
DL: Unlike robots, I have to sleep and rest my onboard computer. (I
tapped my head.) I will answer any of your questions in the morning.
(As I rested in my bed, I heard the soft warbles of joy from the robot as it sang along. Yuletide had come to the world of Artificial Intelligence.)
__________
DL Mullan holds a Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning with Technology.
Her lecture, Spacescapes: Where Photography Ends; Imagination Begins, debuted at the Phoenix Astronomy Society, which then led to her Sally Ride Festival lecture invitations. 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. Currently, Ms. Mullan’s artistic renditions are seen on book covers, blog sites, video presentations, and various merchandise. As an independent publisher, she uses her technical background to innovate the creative arts.
As a writer, DL Mullan loves to stretch her imagination and the elasticity of genres. She writes complex multi-genre stories in digestible and entertaining forms, be it poetry, short fiction, or novels. Her science, history, mythology, and paranormal research backgrounds are woven into her writings, especially in Undawnted’s Legacy Universe. Ms. Mullan’s creative endeavors are available in digital and print collections, from academia to commercial anthologies. She is also an award-winning poet.
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.
_________________________________________
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.
__________________________________________
This segment of “Undawntech” is sponsored by WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services.
Whether it’s editing, publishing, or promotion that you need, WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services can help at a price you can afford.
Stop by and see what we have to offer today: https://writingtoberead.com/readings-for-writers/wordcrafter-quality-writing-author-services/
Share this:
Writer’s Corner: Doing the NaNoWriMo Thing
Posted: December 3, 2024 Filed under: Book Promotion, Books, NaNoWriMo, Science Fiction, Time travel, WordCrafter Press, Writing | Tags: Books, Creative Writing, Kaye Lynne Booth, NaNoWriMo, Novel, The Rock Star & the Outlaw, WordCrafter Press, Writer's Corner, Writing, Writing to be Read 12 Comments
This was my third year participating in NaNoWriMo. The first year I gained confidence when I learned that I was more than capable of making the daily word count goal, something I was unsure of when starting out. At that time, 1,667 sounded like an awfully lot of words, but I did it most of the days in November, and when I didn’t do it, I made up for it on the days I wrote two thousand or more, and by the end of the month of November, I had exceeded the overall word count goal of 50,000. (For the sake of transparency, I started with a partial manuscript, so although technically I was successful, I did not write enough new material to make the goal.)
Last year, 2023, I was well on my way to being successful, this time for real, and it was coming down to the last week, when my computer crashed and I was digitally down, making it impossible to complete the challenge. From this, I learned that it isn;t the end of the world to not finish, and I still feel that if my computer hadn’t crashed, I would have successfully met the challenge. I was making or exceeding the daily word counts each day and was on schedule to finish early, before the end of the month.
This year I went into NaNoWriMo with a very positive attitude. I knew I could make the daily word count, so I didn’t stress about it, but I did paln for it. I approached with a plan to implement strategies which had been successful in the past, and a good working plot outline, so I would be clear on where the story was going. Last year, I had abandoned the time blocking strategy which I’d implemented the first year, for an “ass-in-chair, write-the-book” strategy which I’d learned from one of my graduate school professors. (Don’t get me wrong, time blocking is a valid strategy for some people. It just wasn’t effective for me.)
At first, things seemed to go pretty smoothly, until life got in the way during the first week out, when where I live received almost four feet of snow and I was snowbound for four straight days. I didn’t think it would ever stop. It just kept coming. But even with all the shoveling I had to do, and the firewood I had to split to stay warm, I was able to meet my daily word count goal in the evenings. It started snowing on Wednesday, and when I was finally able to get out, on Monday, the 11th, I had to go to work at my day job. I was so tired, that I wasn’t able to make my word count for the first time. I fell asleep in front of my computer at 8:30 p.m. that night with only 634 words for the day.
But, I found that it wasn’t the end of the world that I didn’t get the badge for making the word count goal every day. And I made up the words I’d missed getting down the very next day, with a total word count for the day of 2624. It’s amazing what a decent night’s sleep will do for you. I really do write better if I take care of myself properly, and that proved it. It is also important to take time out for yourself, even though you may be pushing to make a word count goal or a deadline on a writing project. I’ve been looking forward to each new episode of Tulsa King, with Sylvester Stallone, each Sunday, after my shift at work, and I’ve learned that I can watch an hour or two of television and still get my word count done. This is something I had to teach myself. For the first two years I took the challenge, I took every moment I had to write, like a driven person, and now I’m finding that I’m more productive when I block out time for other things, too.
In the end, I didn’t make it. My Internet went down on the last day, so I didn’t get to log my last days totals anyway. (That is also why this Monday blog segment isn’t coming out on Monday. I just got my Internet back up and running this evening.) My total on November 30th was around 43,000 words. Not quite making the goal, but you know what?
It’s okay, because I’m still working on it everyday and I currently have 45,630 words of my story. I started out from a blank page this year. That’s not bad for a month’s time. And it’s a fantastic start toward the completion of the novel.
What I Learned
- I learned that if I just keep at it, the book will take shape
- I learned that my style of edit as you go is okay. It’s a part of my writing process and it works for me and I end up with a much cleaner first draft. It’s necessary for me in order to obtain the proper foreshadowing and also when planting the little easter eggs which helps connect the books for series readers.
- I learned that thinking about time travel sometimes makes my head hurt. It’sa lot to wrap your head around, and it’s easy to get your plot lines twisted when writing about it. Also another reason to edit as I go. With time travel, changing one thing may change several others, jumping from chapter to chapter for revisions became common place for me with this book.
- I learned to use multiple P.O.V.s to make the plot flow smoothly. This was the most P.O.V.s I’ve ever used in a story.
- I learned how to write in multiple subplots – again, the most I have ever tried to use – and multiple time periods.
About the Book
There is not a lot I can tell you about the second Time Travel Adventure Series book without throwing out huge spoilers to those who haven’t read book 1, The Rock Star & The Outlaw. Although each book can be read as a stand alone, book 2 has references to events in the first book and they are complimentary to one another. Book 2 picks up where the first book leaves off, which is why I can’t explain further without giving away the ending of the first book.
I’m having a lot of fun writing this book, maybe even moreso than I did with the first. Like the first, this one has musical inspiration, with song titles for chapter titles and a playlist in the front of the book. By having mutlple P.O.V.s, it opened this one up to even more music artists and songs. And by dealing with temporal loops, it allowed me the opportunity to change events which occured in the first book, creating a whole new story stemming from the same events. It is a crazy, wild ride and you never know where the characters will end up.
I can’t say too much about the new book, but I can share the book trailer for book 1, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, which is also a wild ride through time, for those who haven’t read it yet.
The Rock Star & The Outlaw
_______________________________________
This post is sponsored by WordCrafter Press
Share this:
Mind Fields: The Air In The Sky
Posted: November 29, 2024 Filed under: Mind Fields, Poetry | Tags: Arthur Rosch, Mind Fields, Poetry, Writing to be Read 1 Comment
May 23, 2020
All night the distant roar of the highway
augments the silence
wrapped around the house.
There is no wind. The Mimosa hang still.
Trucks chatter half mile away crossing speed bumps.
Sound of a jet fading above low clouds.
My belly is full.
My feet sink into the carpet.
I wear only a torn t-shirt.
My bare legs are slightly bowed
but shapely.
I am old and strong. My pains avoid me.
We have a treaty signed
by the doctor.
______________________________
About Arthur Rosch
Arthur Rosch is a novelist, musician, photographer and poet. His works are funny, memorable and often compelling. One reviewer said “He’s wicked and feisty, but when he gets you by the guts, he never lets go.” Listeners to his music have compared him to Frank Zappa, Tom Waits, Randy Newman or Mose Allison. These comparisons are flattering but deceptive. Rosch is a stylist, a complete original. His material ranges from sly wit to gripping political commentary.
Arthur was born in the heart of Illinois and grew up in the western suburbs of St. Louis. In his teens he discovered his creative potential while hoping to please a girl. Though she left the scene, Arthur’s creativity stayed behind. In his early twenties he moved to San Francisco and took part in the thriving arts scene. His first literary sale was to Playboy Magazine. The piece went on to receive Playboy’s “Best Story of the Year” award. Arthur also has writing credits in Exquisite Corpse, Shutterbug, eDigital, and Cat Fancy Magazine. He has written five novels, a memoir and a large collection of poetry. His autobiographical novel, Confessions Of An Honest Man won the Honorable Mention award from Writer’s Digest in 2016.
More of his work can be found at www.artrosch.com
Photos at https://500px.com/p/artsdigiphoto?view=photos
________________________________
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.
_______________________________
This segment of “Mind Fields” is sponsored by the Roberta Writes blog site, where you can find the poetry, photos, videos, and book reviews by Robbie Cheadle and so much more.
Share this:
WordCrafter News: NaNoWriMo Update, the 2024 Novel Writing Bundle & Planning for the Coming Year
Posted: November 25, 2024 Filed under: Blog Sponsors, Book Promotion, Book Release, Book Sales, Fiction, NaNoWriMo, NaNoWriMo, Nonfiction, Publishing, Robbie Reads and Cooks, Story Bundle, WordCrafter News, WordCrafter Press, Writing, Writing Challenge, writing craft, Writing to be Read | Tags: 2024 Novel Writing Story Bundle, Midnight Oil, NaNoWriMo, Poetry Treasures 5: Simple Pleasures, Read and Cook, Robbie Cheadle, Story Bundle, WordCrafter News, WordCrafter Press, Writing to be Read 4 Comments
2024 NaNoWriMo
I crossed the 10,000 word mark on November 5, well ahead of schedule. What a great feeling. And I only missed making the daily word count goal once. Unfortunately, life got in my way, as it usually does. This time, it was a huge snowstorm that dumped about 42″ of snow on my front steps. The snow made even the daily chores more difficult, and then there was all that snow to shovel! But even with moving all that snow I managed to make the word count on most days. That is until it all caught up with me and at the end of the day, I was so tired I couldn’t think straight, and then, my word count started to fall.
I have managed to at least write something to log into the updates daily, and I’m sitting at around 34,500 words to date. That means I just have a little over 15,000 words to reach my goal and six days to do it in. I think I can do it. What do you think? Wish me luck. 😉
2024 Novel Writing Story Bundle
There’s still time to get in on the 2024 Novel Writing Story Bundle, but grab it while you can. It only runs through the end of November. After December 1st, it will no longer be available.
This year’s Writing Tools StoryBundle, curated by bestselling author and publisher Kevin J. Anderson, is another treasure chest of vital handbooks covering aspects of the writer’s craft, business, and way of life. We have thirteen titles on a range of subjects, plus a 12-month subscription to Indie Author Magazine, your best source to stay up-to-date on the industry.
On writing craft, there’s The Illustrated Super Secrets of Writing, Vol. 1—Wulf Moon’s award-winning system on how to write stories and does so with creativity, fun, and humor. Tara Grace Ericson presents Romance Character Tropes—far more than your average trope list; this is an encyclopedia packed with info to help you use and leverage each trope successfully.
Freelance editor Joshua Essoe teaches about Mood and Atmosphere in his series of special-edition writing guides, each examining the most-common issues he encounters from writers he works with. Word by Word by award-winning author Kerrie Flanagan, shows you how to unlock your creativity and transform your writing. This is an essential guide for writers that offers inspiration, genre-specific strategies, and practical tips.
Jana S. Brown gives you Steps to Self-Editing. You’ve finished your novel! Now learn the self-editing steps to smooth off the rough edges and really make it shine!
And in the new revised edition of On Being a Dictator: Revised Edition, by Kevin J. Anderson, Martin Shoemaker, and Greg Vose—available exclusively in this StoryBundle,—you’ll learn how to use dictation to increase your productivity. One of the foundational books on a popular writing method, On Being a Dictator will help you think outside the box and up your game in the fast-paced ever-changing world of publishing.
Now, on to the writing business. Dollar by Dollar by Kerrie Flanagan is a comprehensive guide packed with proven strategies to help writers boost book sales, increase income from writing, and succeed in both traditional and self-publishing. Mark Leslie’s Author’s Guide to Branding for Success shows you how to make your Author Brand into one of your best long-term Intellectual Property assets!
Matty Dalrymple and Michael La Ronn provide guidance and inspiration to share your message with the world from the stage in Page to Platform: How to Succeed as an Author Speaker.
And Booking the Libraries by Jessica Brawner is tailored for authors, speakers, storytellers, musicians, puppeteers, and all living-wage entertainers. This guide is your key to unlocking fresh markets, cultivating a dedicated fanbase, and revolutionizing your livelihood.
And finally, on the writing life, these titles will help you stay inspired and remain strong as a creative.
The D.I.Y. Author by Kaye Lynne Booth shows you the ropes in the business of being an author.
Wit and Wisdom by Craig Martelle—exclusive first release in this StoryBundle—is chock full of quips and snippets to help authors stay focused on the right things to accelerate their business.
And Falling to Fly by Todd Fahnestock is a deeply personal exploration into the creative process and the publishing industry. This is truly the book to read before you give up on your writing dreams.
In addition in this StoryBundle, you will receive full year’s subscription to Indie Author Magazine, your go-to resource for news, tips, and advice on self-publishing. Stay up-to-date on the latest trends in the industry.
A note on the designated charity for this StoryBundle, the Neil Peart Brain Cancer Research Fund from Cedars Sinai. In 2020 we lost Neil Peart, legendary drummer and lyricist for the rock band Rush, to glioblastoma. He was my mentor, friend, and collaborator on numerous books, and his loss affected me deeply. Neil’s friends and colleagues and fans worldwide have contributed to this glioblastoma research fund in Neil’s name, and we are proud to add our efforts on this Writing Tools StoryBundle as well. – Kevin J. Anderson
* * *
For StoryBundle, you decide what price you want to pay. For $5 (or more, if you’re feeling generous), you’ll get the basic bundle of four books in .epub format—WORLDWIDE.
- Romance Character Tropes by Tara Grace Ericson and Jessica Barber
- Dollar by Dollar by Kerrie Flanagan
- Essoe’s Guides to Writing: Mood and Atmosphere by Joshua Essoe
- Booking the Library by Jessica Brawner
If you pay at least the bonus price of just $20, you get all four of the regular books, plus 9 more books, for a total of 13 (with 5 StoryBundle Exclusives), plus a year’s subscription to Indie Author Magazine!
- Super Secrets: Illustrated by Wulf Moon
- Falling to Fly by Todd Fahnestock
- From Page to Platform: How to Succeed as an Author Speaker by Matty Dalrymple and Michael La Ronn
- A Writer’s Guide to Branding for Success by Mark Leslie Lefebvre (StoryBundle Exclusive)
- On Being a Dictator by Kevin J. Anderson (StoryBundle Exclusive)
- Word by Word by Kerrie Flanagan
- The D.I.Y. Author by Kaye Lynne Booth
- Steps to Self-Editing by Jana S. Brown
- Wit and Wisdom by Craig Martelle (StoryBundle Exclusive)
- Indie Author Magazine: One Year Subscription by Indie Author Magazine
This bundle is available only for a limited time via http://www.storybundle.com. It allows easy reading on computers, smartphones, and tablets as well as Kindle and other ereaders via file transfer, email, and other methods. You get a DRM-free .epub for all books!
It’s also super easy to give the gift of reading with StoryBundle, thanks to our gift cards – which allow you to send someone a code that they can redeem for any future StoryBundle bundle – and timed delivery, which allows you to control exactly when your recipient will get the gift of StoryBundle.
Find out how you can get your book into a Story Bundle of even how you can curate your own on “Writer’s Corner” in my interview with Story Bundle founder, Jason Chen.
Planning for 2025
Story Bundles: Let’s Sell Some Books
I’m planning to currate a few Story Bundles of my own next year. I’m looking for authors with books in the women’s fiction, dark fiction, science fiction/fantasy, or paranormal genres. I already have a few authors interested from the paranormal genre. So, if you have a book in the above mentioned genres, I want to hear from you.Mention it in the comments or drop me a line at KLBWordCrafter@gmail.com and let’s see if your book would be a good fit.
2025 WordCrafter Press Releases
With NaNoWriMo, I’ve got a good start on the second book in my Time-Travel Adventure Series, and I’ll be working hard to complete it throughout the months of December and January, with a hopeful March release. Of course, Book 3 in the Women in the West Adventure Series, Marta is also planned for release in 2025, and a short fiction collection of my own, titled “Little Ditties” to be released in time for Christmas.
With the creation of the Midnight Anthology Series, next year’s anthology is set to be dark fiction again, for volume 3, Midnight Oil. (I recently had a great story idea for this anthology. It’s very dark and scary, and I’m excited to see if I can meet the challenge of writing in a speculative fiction genre I’ve never attempted to write in before.) Submissions will be open in January and the call will post at the beginning of the year.
2025 Writing to be Read
Also, I believe Robbie may already be working on the next volume of Poetry Treasures, with a theme of Simple Pleasures. Guests on this past year’s “Treasuring Poetry” series should be getting their invites soon, if they haven’t already. I look forward to bringing forth another volume of this wonderful series of poetry books.
On Writing to be Read, plan to see more of Robbie’s new blog series, “Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle”, which received a good reception so far this year. Catch “Read and Cook” on the second Wednesday of every month. I plan to continue my “Chatting with the Pros” and “Chatting with New Blood” series on the second and forth Saturdays, as well, and of course first or second Monday will see a “Writer’s Corner” post. Monday’s will also see segments of “Review in Practice” and my latest movie review series, “Everyone is a Critic”. And you can catch Robbie’s “Treasuring Poetry on the third Wednesday, and “In Touch with Nature” on the fourth Wednesday, as always. Art Rosch’s monthly “Mind Fields will also appear wherever I can fit them in, as he doesn’t have a set day right now.
I’m also hoping to get some new sponsors in the coming year. 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. Please consider sponsoring a blog series, or even a single post and help me to keep Writing to be Read up and running.
_____________________________________
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 her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource. 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. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
___________________________________
This post is sponsored by The Rock Star & The Outlaw and WordCrafter Press.
A time-traveler oversteps his boundaries in 1887. Things get out of hand quickly, and he is hanged, setting in motion a series of events from which there’s no turning back.
In 1887, LeRoy McAllister is a reluctant outlaw running from a posse with nowhere to go except to the future.
In 2025, Amaryllis Sanchez is a thrill-seeking rock star on the fast track, who killed her dealing boyfriend to save herself. Now, she’s running from the law and his drug stealing flunkies, and nowhere is safe.
LeRoy falls hard for the rock star, thinking he can save her by taking her back with him. But when they arrive in 1887, things turn crazy fast, and soon they’re running from both the outlaws and the posse, in peril once more.
They can’t go back to the future, so it looks like they’re stuck in the past. But either when, they must face forces that would either lock them up or see them dead.
Purchase your copy today: https://books2read.com/RockStarOutlaw
Share this:
Chatting with New Blood: Mathew V. Brockmeyer
Posted: November 23, 2024 Filed under: Chatting with New Blood, Horror, Interview | Tags: Chatting with New Blood, horror, Interview, Kaye Lynne Booth, Mathew V. Brockmeyer, Writing to be Read 10 Comments
I’m pleased to introduce horror author, Mathew V. Brockmeyer. Mathew has published a novel and two short fiction collections of his own, and has had a number of short stories featured in various anthologies and horror magazines, both online and in print. His novel, Kind Nepenthe, won the 2018 Maxy award for best suspense thriller. (You can read my review of Kind Nepenthe here.)
About Mathew V. Brockmeyer
Matthew V. Brockmeyer lives in an off-grid cabin, deep in the forest of Northern California, with his wife and two children. He enjoys howling at the moon and drenching his fangs in human blood.
He is the author of the critically-acclaimed novel KIND NEPENTHE: A Savage Tale of Terror Set in the Heart of California’s Marijuana Country.
His short stories have been featured in numerous publications, both in print and online, including, among others, Infernal Ink Magazine, Not One of Us, Timeless Tales Magazine, Body Parts Magazine, Alephi, Pulp Metal Magazine, and the anthologies The Edge: Infinite Darkness, After the Happily Ever After, and One Hundred Voices.
Interview
Kaye: Hello Mathew. I’m pleased to have you as my guest today. Horror is a genre that has always fascinated me. I read horror long before I thought of writing it. Stephen King, Anne Rice, Dean Koontz, John Saul are a few of my favorite horror authors. But its a genre I struggle with writing, so I’m hoping to pick up a few tips from you today.
So, let’s start with the basics. Why horror?
Mathew: Well, first one might ask what even is horror? Like pornography, many say it’s hard to define, but when you see it you know it. I believe there’s elements of horror in all great literature, from Steinbeck to the Grimms Brothers to Dostoevsky. I also tend to classify things as horror that others do not, such as the works of Cormac McCarthy and much of Joyce Carol Oates. I also see many elements of horror in true crime, of which I have a life-long love. In fact much of my time these days is spent working on a true crime podcast called Murder Coaster I put out with Bram Stoker-award-winning author Christa Carmen, an old friend of mine.
But back to your question, why horror? Well, first off there’s the thrill, the roller-coaster-ride rush of adrenaline. It’s highly entertaining. But on a deeper level there’s an existential confrontation with our mortality. Horror forces one to reconcile with death, which is the final destination for all of us. I believe reconciling with death makes us more empathetic and better human beings. Ever notice horror freaks and true crime fans are the nicest people you could ever want to meet?
Finally there is the implied warnings and life lessons. Like fairy tales of old, horror, as well as true crime, teaches us to be aware. Life can be dangerous, can be scary, monsters are out there.
Kaye: Where does inspiration for your stories come from? Is your mind just terribly twisted and dark?
Mathew: Most my inspiration comes from reality, which I find much more terrifying than any vampire or werewolf tale. I’ve led a wild life, seen many crazy things, been in many scary situations, I have a lot of material to pull from there. And true crime has always been an huge inspiration, from the Manson Family to serial killers, cults of all sorts, these are the places I go to seeking inspiration.
I occasionally write about vampires, ghosts and werewolves, but I see them more as metaphors for types of people than actual tropes. Vampires as psychic parasites that feed off of people’s life energy and soul, dead inside and living off of other’s misery, and in doing so creating fellow monsters. Ghosts as elements of the past that haunt us, lurking in our subconscious. And werewolves as folks with an inner beast raging inside them, a monster hiding within waiting for the right moment to show itself.
But, yes, my mind is naturally twisted and dark. I really don’t know why. I find some bizarre comfort in the horrific. Perhaps it makes me feel better about my own situation,
Kaye: Your novel, Kind Nepenthe, won the 2018 Maxy Award for best suspense thriller. Is this something that you sought after or was it a complete surprise?
Mathew: It was entered by my publisher and was a nice little surprise, for sure.
Kaye: Much of your writing career is based on short fiction. You have stories published in numerous anthologies and magazines. It is a good way to get your name out there. Do you have any tips for submitting short fiction that might get an author closer to acceptance?
Mathew: Carefully going over the submission guidelines is probably the most important, making sure it’s the right genre, the right length, whether it should be submitted as a word doc or in the body of the email, whether it’s a blind submission and your name shouldn’t be on the manuscript, all of these simple things are so important and often ignored.
Kaye: What differences do you see in writing short fiction and novel length works? Which do you prefer?
Mathew: Well, they say a novelist is a failed short story writer, take that how you will. The length of a novel obviously leaves a lot of room for character development and world building and a longer narrative arc. The short story has to quickly get to the point. Some say every chapter of a novel should hold the elements of a short story, and many writers have submitted chapters as short stories. When Louise Erdrich was writing her first novel Love Medicine she famously had some chapters published as short stories, which went on to win awards, and helped establish her as a writer. I can’t say I prefer one over the other, though, obviously, it’s much more of a commitment to write a novel than a short story.
Kaye: What advice would you give to an author wanting to break into the horror genre?
Mathew: Read, read, read. Get to know the community. There’s a vibrant horror scene on social media. The extreme horror and splatter punk communities are blowing up right now. It appears to be a great time to be an indie horror writer.
Kaye: Who are your favorite authors? Do you try to emulate them?
Mathew: Off the top of my head my favorite authors are John Steinbeck, Cormac McCarthy, Bret Easton Ellis, Donna Tart, Irvine Welsh, John Irving and Andre Dubus III. Do I try to emulate them? Yes. Absolutely, though I try to always give everything a uniqueness and my own personal style. But when writing a pastoral scene I will stop and think, how would Steinbeck phrase this? Or when trying to be postmodern or meta I’ll think, what would Bret Ellis do to convey how advertising and television has shaped this person’s soul? Of course trying to sound like Cormac McCarthy or Irvine Welsh could be dangerous and absurd, ha ha ha. But in the end, we stand on the shoulders of those before us.
Kaye: What’s the best piece of writing advice you were ever given?
Mathew: Make it harder for your protagonist, make their lives harder, their conflicts more intense. How can the situation be worse? More life and death? Brings us to that point.
Kaye: What’s next for Mathew V. Brockmeyer? Is there another book in the works?
Mathew: I’m trying to sell a finished novel, a prequel to Kind Nepenthe. I’m finishing up a novella. I have a few short stories I’ve recently sold that await publication. But my main focus right now is this podcast Murder Coaster. It’s a fully scripted podcast where we often act out the stories, more like an old-time radio dramatization than a modern podcast, with sound effects and full musical scores. It’s insanely labor intensive. I had no idea what I was getting into when I started it, but I love the process. I really love podcasts, there’s an independent, DIY, almost punk rock element to them. Anyone with a microphone and computer can make one. It’s a very underground thing.
Kaye: Where can readers learn more about you and your works?
Mathew: For my podcast go to murdercoasterpodcast.com and for me go to matthewvbrockmyer.com. As for social media I’m most active on Facebook and have a lot of fun there interacting with people. Thanks so much for having me!
I want to thank Mathew for joining us here today. His tips for submitting short fiction, (or anything, really), are spot on to what I have experienced in both submitting and in receiving submissions. And his take on emulating his favorite authors made a lot of sense.
_______________________________________________
This segment of “Chatting with New Blood” is sponsored by The Rock Star & The Outlaw and WordCrafter Press.
A time-traveler oversteps his boundaries in 1887. Things get out of hand quickly, and he is hanged, setting in motion a series of events from which there’s no turning back.
In 1887, LeRoy McAllister is a reluctant outlaw running from a posse with nowhere to go except to the future.
In 2025, Amaryllis Sanchez is a thrill-seeking rock star on the fast track, who killed her dealing boyfriend to save herself. Now, she’s running from the law and his drug stealing flunkies, and nowhere is safe.
LeRoy falls hard for the rock star, thinking he can save her by taking her back with him. But when they arrive in 1887, things turn crazy fast, and soon they’re running from both the outlaws and the posse, in peril once more.
They can’t go back to the future, so it looks like they’re stuck in the past. But either when, they must face forces that would either lock them up or see them dead.
Get your copy today: https://books2read.com/RockStarOutlaw
Share this:
Book Review: “The Cultist’s Wife”
Posted: November 22, 2024 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Horror, Review | Tags: BJ Sikes, Book Reveiw, Gothic Horror, The Cultist's Wife, Writing to be Read Leave a comment
About The Cultist’s Wife
A gothic horror set in 1908 Bahamas
She loathes him but the cult beckons.
1908, the height of the British Empire. Clara’s autonomy is shattered when her long-absent husband summons her to join him at his eerie sect’s headquarters, insulated on a sparsely inhabited island in the Bahamas.
After a harrowing sea voyage, Clara and her children disembark into an unfamiliar landscape and climate. The children explore the marvels and mysteries of Andros Island and develop friendships with a Bahamian family, while Clara struggles to find her place as a woman within the cult.
But what seems at first to be a spiritual haven for Clara reveals itself to be a monster-worshiping cult intent on draining her family of more than their fortune.
Must Clara give up her quest for independence to protect her children from the cult’s depravity?
With themes of Spiritualism, motherhood, and female empowerment, The Cultist’s Wife will appeal to fans of The Ghost Woods and The Quickening.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Cultists-Wife-BJ-Sikes-ebook/dp/B0CW1FKGND
My Review
I recieved a digital copy of The Cultist’s Wife, by B.J. Sikes from Sandra’s Book Club review program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
I was attracted to this book by its simple cover design which highlights the title, which caught my eye, so I chose this book from a slew of books Sandra’s Book Club has available for review. It’s a gothic horror novel, which could even fall under the women’s fiction genre. Clara, the female protagonist, is a woman in British society seeking her independence through spiritualism at the beginning of the twentieth century in the absence of her husband, who has been in the Bahamas for the past five years. And later in the story, we meet a second strong female who plays an equally vital role in the story’s plot.
At first, I must admit, I didn’t like Clara very much. I found her to be selfish, worried more about appearances in society than anything else, as she allows a nanny to take responsibility for the care of her children, eight-year-old Elsie and five-year-old Reggie, which was common for the times. When her absent husband summons her to bring the children and join him, she cows to his will as a proper wife should, in spite of her questions as to his motive. Upon their arrival, her choice to seek enlightenment on Andros Island and become a member of the cult her husband is involved, and her almost total disregard for her children and their well-being reinforced my first impression and made me wonder how she could be so blind to what was happening around her. I felt it to be at odds with the self-rightous, independent woman she was struggling to be.
The children are the real heroes in this tale, showing strength and ingenuity in their mother’s absence as she bends to the will of the Order. They are left to their own devices to explore the island, making friends with the indigenous people, and uncovering a murder in the process. Their mother doesn’t believe them and they turn to Aunty Irene, another strong and independent female from the local population, but even she may not be strong enough to stand against the Order.
By the end of the story, we see Clara grow and change into a truly strong and caring woman as her priorities shift and her eyes are opened to the reality of her situation, providing an unsuspected and satisfying ending as every character arc should, but it is little Elsie who I identified with and rooted for. Perhaps it should have been titled, “The Cultist’s Children” instead.
A classic gothic horror story, I give The Cultist’s Wife four quills.
_________________________________
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.
Share this:
Treasuring Poetry – Meet poet Maggie Watson and a review of Pieces of Me, A collection of poems #TreasuringPoetry #poetrycommunity #bookreview
Posted: November 20, 2024 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Collection, Interview, Poetry, Review | Tags: Interview, Maggie Watson, Pieces of ME, Poetry, Review, Robbie Cheadle, Treasuring Poetry, Writing to be Read 72 Comments
Today, I am delighted to introduce poet, Maggie Watson. Maggie writes incredibly compelling poetry which you can find on her blog here: Ephemeral Encounters
Over to Maggie
Robbie, thank you so much for inviting me to be your guest on Treasuring Poetry. I loved your questions, and I hope everyone finds my answers, at the very least, a little interesting.
My favourite style of poetry to read is haiku.
Haiku poems are easy on the eye, yet they can evoke strong emotions in a few words. If a poem is too long, I lose interest halfway through unless it grabs me in the first couple of lines.
My favourite haiku is “A Poppy Blooms” by Katsushika Hokusai
I write, erase, rewrite
Erase again, and then
A poppy blooms.
The writer here uses the imagery of spring to describe his writing process.
I would use winter, as I sometimes find the whole writing process frustrating, especially when I am blocked, staring at a blank piece of paper (a barren landscape in winter).
My favourite style of writing poetry is freestyle. I am ashamed to say that I have not tried any other style. I did attempt a few haiku a while back, but not consistently. As I write, it comes from my heart and soul and usually reflects my mood or thoughts at that moment. I hope no one shoots me down in flames for saying this, but poetry should be as free as a bird set free, not confined or restricted to parameters.
My favourite poem written by me is one of the first I ever wrote in 2020, one of the better ones, I hasten to add. The Mask is also in my new Collection, Pieces of Me and is related to the subject matter.
She puts it on before she goes outside,
just in case anyone should see inside.
The darkness, the hurt, the years ripped and scarred with dirt.
No one knows.
No one cares.
They only see the Mask she wears.
She tries but can’t forget all the angry words and threats buried deep within and the pain that never seems to dim.
So she smiles, wears the Mask, and hopes that no one ever asks.
I had originally planned to call this collection Bouquets of Barbed Wire, however, it was a little too close to the title of a television programme that I remember my parents watching, so I decided against it.
Pieces of Me is another poem from another Collection, “In the Shadow of my Pen: A Collection of Poetry and Prose.
Not long after joining WordPress, David from A Skeptics Kaddish reblogged it. I then decided to write two other parts, all three are in the new Collection. The new collection is my story in poems about my abusive relationship. The main form of abuse was gaslighting, which is a gradual erosion of your spirit, piece by piece. By sharing my story, I hope to inspire others to do the same.
Thank you again Robbie for giving me this space.
It’s my pleasure, Maggie. Thank you for being a wonderful guest.
My review of Pieces of Me, A collection of poems by Maggie Watson
Pieces of Me is a collection of powerful poems written by a survivor of domestic abuse. The abuse the poet suffered was not physical or sexual, but rather mental. The kind that slowly and insidiously destroys your spirit.
The collection is divided into parts reflecting the various stages of the poet’s abuse from the early days of her marriage until she found the determination and courage to exit her destructive relationship.
Red light spells danger: These poems are about the warning signs that the poet was to young and inexperienced to understand. It is awful to think of a young person being lured into such a terrible set of circumstances like a fly into a spider web.
“I was blind.
I did not see it.
Too young, too naive.
Red light spells danger, but I ignored the colour of your aura.”
An extract from Red Lights Spell Danger
When I think back over my own youth, I sigh with relief that I never fell victim to such a man’s charms. It could have happened so easily as we are gullible and innocent when we are young.
Eggshells is the next section and eloquently describes living with a bully and gas lighter.
“A soul in pain, cute with a blade, the wound
then stitched together with words unkind
Spirit erased, replaced with doubts and fears.
Thoughts of unworthiness grow among the stitches sown
Drip, drip, they slowly infiltrate the mind.”
Extract from Soul in Pain
I am becoming is an uplifting section where the poet describes her escape from the vicious clutches of her abuser and path towards reclaiming her life.
“Never be a lamb to their slaughter
don’t let them watch you bleed
It is they who are weak as they plant their
seeds in your womb
for the pleasure that they seek.”
A collection of strongly worded and evocative poems that make you walk the poet’s path hand-in-hand with her. With compassion comes understanding.
Purchase Pieces of Me: A collection of poems from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DH32JKQ8
About Maggie Watson
Maggie was born in Cape Town, South Africa.
She now lives in Scotland.
She has CFS which is a very debilitating/unpredictable illness, but she refuses to let that define her.
She began writing in 2020 at the start of the Pandemic.
At that point, she had no idea it would play such a huge part in her life as it does now!
In 2021 she self-published her first collection of poetry and has since self-published five others.
Maggie draws a lot on her life experiences when she writes.
As a Domestic Abuse Survivor she uses her voice through her words to empower.
Her work has also been published by Gypsophila Zine, Glass Gates Publishing, Spill Words and Edge of Humanity and others.
And, also included in three anthologies.
For more examples of her writing visit her blog here: https://poetrybymaggiewatson.uk/
________________________________
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.
___________________________
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
Share this:
Review in Practice: “Wit & Wisdom”, “Romance Character Tropes” & “Steps to Self-Editing”
Posted: November 18, 2024 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Nonfiction, Review, Review in Practice, Story Bundle, Writing, Writing Reference, Writing Tips | Tags: 2024 Novel Writing Story Bundle, Book Reviews, Craig Martelle, Jana S. Brown, Jessica Barber, Review in Practice, Romance Character Tropes, Steps to Self-Editing, Tara G. Ericson, Wit & Wisedom, Writing Resorce, Writing to be Read 3 CommentsOne of the advantages of being in a Story Bundle, is that you get a free copy of all the books included in the bundle. That means you get to read everyone else’s book. With the 2024 Novel Writing Story Bundle, for me, it, means I get to read a lot of writing reference books and I can discover from them, bits of writing wisdom which I can utilize in my own writing and publishing processes to improve my own work. For this segment of Review in Practice, I chose three books from this Story Bundle, with hopes of a few little nugets of gold that I can mine from them and share with you: Wit & Wisdom, by Craig Martelle, Romance Character Tropes, by Jessica Barber and Tara G. Ericson, and Steps to Self-Editing, by Jana S. Brown.
Wit & Wisdom, by Craig Martelle
An exclusive first release in this StoryBundle— chock full of quips and snippets to help authors stay focused on the right things to accelerate their business.
My Thoughts on Wit & Wisdom
I always wanted to attend the 20 Books to 50K Conference, but I never could make it. So, when I had the opportunity to review a book written by one of the founders, Craig Martelle, you can be sure I jumped at the chance. Wit & Wisdom is packed full of useful tips and advice to help make your writing business successful.
Romance Character Tropes, by Jessica Barber & Tara G. Ericson
In this one-of-a-kind resource, you’ll find more than a list of tropes or broad genre fiction advice.
The Romance Writer’s Encyclopedia Series breaks down our method for categorizing tropes into four types of framework tropes – Character Tropes, Situational Tropes, Setting Tropes, and Relational Tropes.
The Character Tropes Encyclopedia includes detailed entries on favorite romance tropes like Cowboys, Royalty, Law enforcement, and Athletes. And we didn’t forget popular modern tropes like Alpha Male, Cinnamon Roll, or The Grump!
But this is more than a trope list – it’s an encyclopedia!
Each encyclopedia entry includes an introduction to the trope itself, as well as information on why readers love the trope (including examination of what inner desire is being met by the trope), what expectations exist in the stories, common pitfalls that authors need to avoid, common characteristics and potential wounds.
Putting a cowboy hat on the cover of your book isn’t enough to have a Cowboy romance that readers will love – but we’ll tell you what will. And then we’ll do it for Pirates and Rockstars and Firefighters, too.
Romance Character Tropes is designed to be used at every stage of planning, writing, and publishing your books. If used effectively, it will help you write a romance that readers will love, but also help you market that book to get it into the hands of readers who will devour it.
We’ve studied thousands of books and movies, polled readers and studied the market to understand not just which Character Tropes work – but WHY they work. And knowing why they work means you can put them to work for you.Harness the power of Character Tropes to make your book marketable, multi-dimensional, and satisfying, so readers will come back again and again.
You can purchase this book seperately here: https://www.amazon.com/Romance-Character-Tropes-Billionaires-Encyclopedia-ebook/dp/B0C1HQLW8X/
My Thoughts on Romance Character Tropes
Tropes are something which have always puzzled me. They were touched on in my graduate classes, to say that you should be aware of them and know what they are, but it was left to the individual to figure it out from there, probably because there are so many of them, and they differ from genre to genre. Since then, I’ve learned that there are too many tropes, no matter the genre, that the whole trope thing seemed overwhelming to me, and I got tired of trying to figure it out , choosing instead, to just write.
I wish I’d had a resource such as this one back then, because Barber and Ericson made it so easy to understand. If someone had explained that internal character tropes were based on the archetypes that I studied in graduate school, it would have all made sense so much sooner. They give a clear definition of what tropes are and why we use them.
“Each of the internal character tropes in this chapter is derived from some of the most popular literary archetypes in fiction. They will carry elements of the universal symbolism, themes, and patterns that have transcended both time and history.”
When I was running my “Ask the Authors-” blog series, back in 2018, I inteviewed many authors, and one of the questions was about using tropes. Some said they used them, some said they avoided them, and still others didn’t have a clue as to what a trope was. But the fact is, we all use tropes, whether we do it conciously or not, no matter what genre we write in. Without character tropes, our characters would be flat, with no personality, and readers would have no reason to care whether our characters achieved their goals or not. If you have a character who is a firefighter, then you are writing with a Man in Uniform character trope. And if you do it conciously, which you should, there are certain things you need to be aware of which will make your character bigger than life for your readers.
I haven’t written much romance, so you might find it odd that I would choose to review Romance Character Tropes, by Jessica Barber and Tara G. Ericson. My thinking is that although this book delves into tropes which are specific to the romance genre, many of the character tropes can be found in other genres, as well.
This month, for NaNoWriMo, I’m writing the second book in my Time Travel Adventure series, the sequel to The Rock Star & The Outlaw, which has a strong romance element, and my male protagonist just happens to be a cowboy, which is a popular romance character trope, so I paid particular attention to what the authors had to say about the Cowboy trope.
I discovered that the cowboy hero I created for the first book, and I am now writing into the second isn’t a rodeo cowboy, a lone wolf or off the grid cowboy, or a law enforcement cowboy, but more of a cross between the cowboy and the reformed bad boy tropes. When LeRoy is introduced in the twenty-first century, in the first book, he is all cowboy, manners and all, and that fact is what attracts my heroine, Amaryllis, in the first place. But when he goes back in time, to an actual western setting, we see the reformed bad boy, who has done all the wrong things, but for the right reasons. Over all, I feel like I did a pretty good job on the first book, and I’ve gathered some ideas about where his character arc may lead in the second one, to make him a more well-rounded character.
I learned so much useful information from Romance Character Tropes that I know it will be a resource I turn to again and again. I have a couple of romance stories that have been trunked, and after reading this book, I’m tempted to pull them out and give them another go, so don’t be surprised if I had add romance to my list of genres I write in in the future.
Steps to Self-Editing, by Jana S. Brown
You’ve finished writing your rough draft! Congratulations!
Now what are you going to do?
Before going out into the world, every manuscript needs a little love from its creator in the form of self-editing and revision.
However, that can be a daunting task.
- Plotlines
- Character arcs
- Continuity
- Grammatical mistakes
Where do you begin?
Join author and editor, Jana S. Brown, at her virtual table and learn the Steps to Self-Editing from setting your structure, to rubbing out wordiness to make your manuscript shine.
You can purchase this book seperately here: https://www.amazon.com/Steps-Self-Editing-Common-Writing-Publishing-ebook/dp/B0CK54T3TC
My Thoughts on Steps to Self-Editing
I chose to read this book because I do self-edit, in spite of all the warnings that I’ve heard not to. I’ve always been told that self-editing is a big no-no, especially if you do it as you are writing, and guess what, I do that, too. But Steps to Self-Editing, by Jana S. Brown doesn’t make that judgement. In it, Brown actually discusses the reasons why you may want to self-edit and talks about the differences in self-editing as you write, and doing an overall self-edit when you’ve finished, (I do both types), and when you may want to do both, as well as when you may not. Brown also makes it clear that self-editing is not recommended to take the place of paying a professional editor. It’s just another step which can be taken to hone your creative child and polish it to look its best.
As I am currently undertaking the NaNoWriMo challenge, and I’m in the process of writing the second book in my Time Travel Series, so I’m already using some of the tips as I self-edit as I go. I am compelled to do this with my writing, as I find and fix plot holes, and go back to add foreshadowing where needed, but Brown has reminded me of other things that can be looked for and fixed early on.
When I have a completed manuscript, hopefully at the end of the month, I’ll be using it again to give my manuscript a complete once over, before sending it off to be scrutinized by another set of eyes. Brown also is a fan of reading your manuscript aloud as a part of self-editing, a step which I always employ, sometimes during the writing process, sometimes after. As she points out, reading your work aloud can help you find logic errors and inconsistencies in your story, as well as helping to smooth the rough edges.
The section that touches on punctuation and grammar rules assures I’ll be turning back to this book again and again, because there are too many rules to remember, making double checking a necessity. This is a quick and easy to use writing resource, which will be a valuable addition to my library.
The 2024 Novel Writing Story Bundle
Wit & Wisdom, by Craig Martelle, Romance Character Tropes, by Jessica Barber and Tara G. Ericson, and Steps to Self-Editing, by Jana S. Brown, are all offered in the 2024 Novel Writing Story Bundle, along with my own The D.I.Y. Author and nine other valuable writing references that every author should have at their fingertips. This bundle offers valuable writing advice from successful authors such as Kerrie Flanagan, Kevin J. Anderson, Mark Leslie Lefabvre, Wulf Moon, Joshua Essoe, Kerrie Flanagan, Matty Dalrymple and M.L. Ronn, Jessica Brawner, Todd Fahnestock, along with a year’s subscription to Indie Author Magazine. A percentage of every bundle sold goes to the Neil Peart Brain Cancer Research Fund from Cedars Sinai. These digital books are DRM-free and compatable with any digital reading device. And you get a lot of books for one great price.
You can get your 2024 Novel Writing Story Bundle here: https://storybundle.com/writing
_______________________________________________
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 her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw,as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource. 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. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
____________________
This post is sponsored by The D.I.Y. Author and WordCrafter Press.
Being an author today is more than just writing the book. Authors in this digital age have more opportunities than ever before. Whether you pursue independent or traditional publishing models, or a combination of the two, being an author involves not only writing, but often, the publishing and marketing of the book.
In this writer’s reference guide, multi-genre author and independent publisher, Kaye Lynne Booth shares her knowledge and experiences and the tools, books, references and sites to help you learn the business of being an author.
Topics Include:
Becoming Prolific
Writing Tools
Outlining
Making Quality a Priority
Publishing Models & Trends
Marketing Your Book
Book Covers & Blurbs
Book Events—In Person & Virtual
And more…
Purchase your copy today: https://books2read.com/The-DIY-Author
Share this:
Book Review: The Friday Edition
Posted: November 15, 2024 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Crime, Fiction, Mystery | Tags: Betta Ferrendelli, Book Reveiw, Crime Thriller, Kaye Lynne Booth, mystery, The Friday Edition, Writing to be Read 10 CommentsAbout the Book
Snow isn’t all that’s falling in Denver, Colorado on Christmas Eve.
A beautiful, young district attorney tumbles from her balcony to her death.
Police suspect suicide, but the DA’s sister, newspaper reporter Samantha Church, isn’t buying it.
Samantha discovers evidence linking her sister to a drug smuggling case and quickly learns she has stumbled onto a major news story. She must summon the courage to not only face a cartel of criminals, but her own fears and shortcomings when she is confronted by the inescapable specter of a far greater enemy—her addiction to alcohol. Samantha’s dependency has not only cost her job at a major metropolitan daily, but, worse, custody of her daughter, April.
Samantha pursues her sister’s killers, maneuvering through a minefield of intrigue deliberately set out to divert her from the truth. Despite being betrayed, physically beaten and facing the possibility of sharing her sister’s fate, Samantha refuses to stop her investigation.
However, when the killers threaten to harm April, Samantha realizes that, for her daughter’s sake, she can no longer continue the investigation on her own. She knows she must swallow her pride and turn to her ex-husband and police detective, Jonathan Church, for help.
Can Samantha ultimately prevail—find her sister’s killer, write the story of her career, confront her drinking problem, and finally begin to change her life, or will she and April become the killer’s next victims?
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Friday-Samantha-Church-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B008IIFWYK
My Review
I received a digital copy of The Friday Edition, A Samantha Church Mystery, Book 1, by Betta Ferrendelli through Freebooksie. All opinions stated here are my own.
This tale has all the elements of a well-written mystery and crime thriller: a determined reporter plays detective, and she’s a wonderfully flawed character with plenty of room to grow, a suspicious death, and a lot going on behind closed doors to keep you guessing. Ferrendelli takes us to the depths of the main character and protagonist, Samantha Church, where we learn about the the demons which she battles, and expose her all her weaknesses, and come out likeing her all the more for them. She makes us root for Samantha to solve the case and break the story. When it seems she’s sliding backwards down a dark hole, we hold out breath and we cheer the loudest when she manages to pull through.
Samantha is a mess and she knows it, but her heart is always in the right place, even when her mind takes her down a dark path. Her alcoholism has cost her plenty, including the one thing that matters most to her in the world, her daughter April. Now, fueled by suspicions that her sister’s death was not a suicide, as police say, she sets out to learn the truth, but her failed attempts at earning back April’s trust threaten to plummet her into darkness and prevent her from uncovering a conspiracy the will rock the city of Denver. She is a strong, but flawed female protagonist and we want to see her win.
An enthralling mystery which kept me turning pages. I give The Friday Edition five quills.
__________________________________________
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.
Share this:
Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle – To Wake the Giant: A Novel of Pearl Harbor and American Crabcakes #bookreview #cooking #crabcakes
Posted: November 13, 2024 Filed under: Books, cooking, Read and Cook, Recipes, Review | Tags: American Crabcakes, Jeff Shaara, Read and Cook, Robbie Cheadle, To Wake the Giant, Writing to be Read 47 Comments
November 11 is Remembrance Day or Poppy Day, a memorial day observed in Commonwealth member states to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty. With this in mind, and to feed my growing interest in USA history, I selected To Wake the Giant: A Novel of Pearl Harbor by Jeff Shaara for this month’s book review. Last month, the month of Halloween, I reviewed Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice. If you missed that post, you can read it here: https://writingtoberead.com/2024/10/09/read-and-cook-with-robbie-cheadle-interview-with-a-vampire-by-anne-rice-and-new-orleans-gumbo-bookreview-recipe-readandcook/?_gl=1*akw5pe*_gcl_au*MjgyNDk3NjkzLjE3Mjg3OTgxMTQ.
Are you noticing the book choices are themed? They are, to the extent possible, and next month is Christmas. I’ve got a treat in mind for you …
To Wake the Giant: A Novel of Pearl Harbor by Jeff Shaara
I have read a few of Jeff Shaara’s books and they have all be entertaining, informative, and well researched. My historical knowledge of both WW1 and WW2 is much greater as it relates to events in Europe and from a British, Dutch, French, and Polish perspective. I have been making a point of learning more about WW2 from an American perspective and this book did not disappoint. It provided copious detail about the events leading up to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour and the USA’s entrance into a war they fought on two fronts, in an interesting and relatable way.
The author tells his story through the eyes of three main characters, two of whom are real historical people and one who appears based on a real person but whose life would have been more fictionalised for purposes of this book. These main characters are as follows:
Cordell Hull is President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Secretary of State and the real historical figure who tried to negotiate for continued peace with the Japanese through Ambassador Admiral Kichisaburo Nomura and Special Envoy, Saburo Kurusu. He failed and the Japanese launched their attack on Pearl Harbour on Sunday, 7 December 1941, marking the USA’s terrible and spectacular entrance into WW2. Cordell tells the story from the US government’s point of view and perspective.
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto is the force behind the attack on Pearl Harbour. A real historical figure, he understood that war was inevitable and planned for an early victory and delay tactic for an American response by destroying the United States Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbour in a preventive strike. Yamamoto believed that aviation was the way forward and opposed the building of the battleships, Yamoto and Mushashi, proposing investment in a strong Japanese arial force instead. Yamamoto tells the story from the Japanese perspective.
Seaman Tommy Biggs is an ordinary nineteen-year-old from a small town in Florida. Having finished school, he is faced with no job opportunities as a result of the Depression. When his best friend decides to join the Navy, Tommy is convinced to sign up too. Tommy has aspirations to work in the military hospital service and, after successfully completing boot camp, manages to get assigned to the USS Arizona as a hospital apprentice.
Seaman Biggs’ role in this book is the one that interested me the most as he represented the ordinary seaman. The reader learns about his life on the USS Arizona and the abuse he suffers at the hands of the military system which allowed senior personnel to bully junior staff. Through his eyes, I experienced daily life aboard the ship which was repetitive and boring, and off short time in the town. Most of the seamen spent their time ashore drinking cheap booze and making use of prostitutes. The boredom of the life on board ship, eroded alertness and interest and, in my opinion, helped set the stage for an attack that was such a complete and utter surprise.
This book is fascinating and shares details of the historical event in a heart rending and personable way. The descriptions of the event of the day were a shock to me, I didn’t know about the terrible fires and the oil the water that burned and horribly maimed many of the seamen. Having read this book, I understood the mindset of the American people and how the events that followed came to unfold the way they did.
If you are interested in books about and like to learn and expand your knowledge in a fascinating and compelling way, this book is for you.
You can purchase To Wake the Giant: A Novel of Pearl Harbor here: https://www.amazon.com/Wake-Giant-Novel-Pearl-Harbor-ebook/dp/B07X8D1B1Y
Quotes from To Wake the Giant: A Novel of Pearl Harbor
“We believed we knew everything they were thinking. Those Magic intercepts made us feel invulnerable. No, a better word is cocky. Their diplomats are chatting back and forth with Tokyo about the weather or color of their new Cadillacs while their military put a plan together to kick us in the teeth. We thought we knew everything. We didn’t.
-President Franklin Delano Roosevelt”
“All I propose is an attack that will paralyze the Americans, for perhaps six months. This attack is not about victory, about winning a war…It is about delaying them, keeping them back, damaging their military might and pride.
-Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto”
“How were we taken so by surprise? Everything we have gone through at the State Department, for most of the past year has pointed unmistakably to Japanese aggression, to their deceitfulness, duplicity, and backdoor actions. We knew exactly what they were doing in Southeast Asia in the Netherlands East Indies in China. We had access to their diplomatic communications we have outstanding people in our intelligence offices, both army and navy. How could this have happened?
-Former US Secretary of State, Cordell Hull”
THIS IS A SMASHING BOOK. IF YOU HAVEN’T READ IT, YOU REALLY MUST!
And now, on to the recipe. I made three dishes for this post and I loved them all. I decided to share the crabcakes recipe today and will keep the others for another post.
Robbie’s version of American Crabcakes
Ingredients
2 large eggs
90 ml mayonnaise
2 Tbspns (30 ml) onions grated
120 ml lemon juice
10 ml dried tarragon
2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
500 grams uncooked crab meat
30 ml melted butter
1 1/2 cups (750 ml) crushed melba toast slices (you can use any plain savoury biscuit)
Method
Mix the eggs, mayonnaise, onions, lemon juice, tarragon and pepper flakes together in a mixing bowl. In a frying pan on a medium heat, cook the crabmeat in the butter. Add the crabmeat to the egg mixture and combine. Add the crushed melba toast and ensure everything is properly mixed together. I always use my hands.
Shape the mixture into cakes and fry in a little olive oil until nicely browned. We enjoyed the crabcakes with rice and Greek lemon roasted vegetables.
About Robbie Cheadle
South African author and illustrator, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated seventeen 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/
________________________________________
Want to be sure not to miss any of Robbie’s “Read and Cook” segments? Subscribe to Writing to be Read for e-mail notifications whenever new content is posted or follow WtbR on WordPress. If you found it interesting or entertaining, please share.
_________________________________________
This segment of “Read and Cook” with Robbie Cheadle 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 2025
