Tuesday, October 15, 2024

It's Fall Ya'll! Here's a little poem entitled "Autumn Leaves"






 Crisp multicolored leaves,

Dancing in the autumn breeze.

Floating gently to the ground,

Then hastily raked into a mound.

Children run, taking a leap,

Safely landing in the heap.

Giggles permeate the air,

as leaves scatter everywhere.

Reds, yellows, oranges, obscure green,

Painting a picturesque scene.


Happy Fall! And Happy Reading!

Monday, October 14, 2024

New Release Coming October 28th!

 No classic move today! I've been MIA lately, but I've been working on getting my new mystery ready for release. I'm also working on other projects, and with my work hours being a bit different lately, I get behind on my blog. 

The Bindlestiff Mystery will be available on Kindle later this month. I'm still working on getting it uploaded for other stores, too! 


A compassionate teenager, Caleb, forms an unlikely bond with an amnesiac homeless man. Caleb sets out on a quest to reunite the mystery man with his long-lost family. 

As the story unfolds, prepare to be captivated by unexpected twists and turns.








You'll find this book on Amazon Kindle October 28th for $2.99.

I'll post other links as they become available. When I upload for other stores, it takes a bit longer for other sites to publish the e-book. 


Happy Reading!

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Where'd You Come Up With That?! Wednesdays!

 


Stinky Ol' Pig is a story about Percy, a curious little piglet who overhears a private conversation between some of the other farm animals. 

One farm animal, Mr. Lamb, has some unpleasant things to say about pigs and how dirty pigs are. Percy decides he doesn't want to be a stinky old pig, so he finds some sweet-smelling honeysuckle to wallow in.

Mom takes Percy aside and explains that all animals are different and pigs are made to wallow in the mud and cool off. 

So, where'd this idea come from? I'm not 100% sure why I chose pigs. I wanted to write a different type of animal story for children, so when pigs came to mind I came up with a pig who wants to smell nice.

Now, working off that, I had to decide why he didn't want to stink, and how he and Mama Pig would deal with the issue. I think writing it this way teaches children a few concepts: 

  1. You shouldn't care what others say about you.
  2. Everyone should be free to be themselves.
  3. Compromise can be beneficial.
  4. Not all beings are made to be the same, and that's ok.
  5. Acceptance for those who are different than you.
The story underwent years of revisions until I felt it was ready for publication. Also, I couldn't draw pigs; I'm not great at illustrations. Luckily, I found Canva.com and the perfect image for the story. 

Stinkly Ol'Pig is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. You can read for free on Kindle Unlimited! 


Tuesday, September 17, 2024

99Cent Book Sale!

 


Stories to Wrap Your Mind Around: Volume 5 is on sale today through October 15,2024. 

Here is the link to all the stores where you can buy. Buy Here!


Explore tales of the unusual, the peculiar, and the mysterious. Enter a realm where logic defies reason yet somehow feels entirely sensible. Stories that will intrigue and captivate your imagination. These truly are stories to wrap your mind around.

Stories include:

Existence: Dr. Pence sees his patients daily, but is he the only one?

The Stalker: Emily's stalker is not your ordinary psycho.

Time: Does fate control our lives, or do we have some control?

Come Back, Doug: Doug gets lost in dry desert for alcoholics only

Deja Vu: Alicia learns it's not so much what you wish for, but how you word it.


I'd appreciate it if you read it and would like to leave a review! 


Happy Reading!

Monday, September 16, 2024

Classic Movie Mondays!~ Sudden Fear


 Joan Crawford is one of my all-time favorite actresses. She is as dramatic as a woman can be in her movies, and I love it!

In Sudden Fear Crawford plays, Myra Hudson, a wealthy playwright who falls in love with the wrong man. 

Myra meets her future husband, Lester Blaine (played by Jack Palance), when he is cast as the leading man in one of her new plays. She doesn't think he's right for the role and is fired from the production. However, the play ends up being a hit!

Before leaving, he does have a few choice words for her, but nothing hateful. Lester and Myra later meet up while traveling by train, and the two fall in love. Watching the scenes of the two on the train together, you might suspect Lester to be anything but genuine, but you'd be wrong. 



Myra marries Lester, and everything seems fine until his ex-girlfriend Irene shows up. It's only then that viewers realize how deceitful Lester truly is.



The movie takes a terrifying turn when Myra unknowingly leaves the recording machine on in her study. When she plays back her recording from the following evening, she hears Lester and Irene discussing her murder.



Myra is frightened but remains calm and devises a plan for revenge against the two. Although the plan doesn't go as expected, I believe it ultimately benefits Myra.

I don't want to spoil the movie for anyone who hasn't seen it. There's so much more to it than what I've written. I've watched it multiple times, but the suspense is best experienced the first time.

My take on it is this. Lester wanted revenge on Myra because she had him fired, so he set out to marry her and take everything she had. 

I love how suspenseful this movie is. Old movies have the best camera angles and music to thrill the audience. Joan Crawford's facial expressions and dramatic acting are at their finest!

New movies lack those amazing camera angles!

They also lack the music that builds suspense.



The classic actresses such as Crawford, Davis, Fontaine, and Stanwyck were masters at conveying suspense, fear, or sadness through their facial expressions. You rarely see that level of dramatic acting in movies nowadays, and that's why I love classic films.

The director, David Miller, did an excellent job. I'd say this film is comparable to one directed by Alfred Hitchcock. 

The frantic vibes you get from the characters along with the music keep you at the edge of your seat.


Sudden Fear is an exceptional film if you enjoy suspense/thrillers. And the ending, in my opinion, was the perfect outcome for Myra! 


Happy Reading!


Sunday, September 15, 2024

Pumpkin Seed~ A Fun Poem

 




Big Sis told me it was a pill

I swallowed it while I was ill

Later she admitted with glee

It was a seed planted inside me.

 

My heart raced, I had to know

Would this seed inside me grow?

I felt my belly begin to rise

I imagined myself made into pies.

 

I screamed, I cried, I went frantic

I hollered for Momma in a dreadful panic

She raced to see what the fuss was about

I hollered, “Momma get it out!”

 

Momma  sat at the edge of my bed

And calmed me down by rubbing my head.

What is it that has you filled with such fear

I pointed at my belly, “A seed in here.”

 

Momma laughed and said you’ll be fine.

A seed won’t grow without soil and sunshine.

I looked up at her and asked, “Is this true?”

She smiled and asked, “Would I lie to you?”

 

She was right about Momma’s not lyin’

I wiped my tears and stopped my cryin’

I’d get even with Sis for her little trick

Just wait til’ next time she gets sick.


Happy Reading!

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Where'd You Come Up With That? Wednesdays! ~ One Man's Trash

 I'm back! And feeling a bit better. 💪

Today's story is "One Man's Trash." The story is in my Ebook, Stories to Wrap Your Mind Around: Volume 3

You can also find the book at this link

The stories in this volume include:

Grandma's Scrapbook: Grandma’s bags are packed, and she is ready for a death vacation.

Destination...3009: Jim finishes building his time machine and is ready to see what advances the future has to offer, but he is stunned by what he doesn't find.

My Friend, Clarence: Jeremy knows intimate details about the murders of several young girls. He claims his friend, Clarence, is the perp. The only problem--Clarence is Jeremy’s imaginary friend,

The Weed Whisperer: Simon is a gardening guru. Weeds never dare to grow in his garden or flowerbeds, but Simon learns that weeds will attack if provoked.

One Man's Trash: Sometimes a good deal isn't always what it seems.


I wrote this for a contest on Writing.com. The prompt was a horror story involving a hat. So, I'm not great at straight-out, scary, spine-chilling horror, but If I can sprinkle in a little dark humor, I'm in. ❤😊

The story revolves around two friends, Ryan and Dan, who find an interesting old hat left behind in their new rental apartment. The duo soon find out the hat is evil, and once it's on your head... Well, you have to read the story to find out!

Sometimes, people leave things behind or throw them out for a reason. So, the old adage about one man's trash being someone else's treasure may not always be true! And that's where the idea for this story originated in the interworking of my brain.

The story is light horror, sprinkled with some dark comedy. 

Here's an excerpt: 

“The last tenants left some stuff. Mr. Lang said he’d come by and get it later this week,” Ryan yelled from the bedroom.

“It’s got little pieces of masking tape on everything. Twenty-five cents...a dime...this stuff came from a garage sale or something.” Dan rummaged through the boxes.

Ryan came running back down the hall. “Don’t touch that stuff. It’s not ours.”

“Look at this cool hat. Twenty- five cents.” Dan put it on his head. “Look at me, I'm Frosty the snowman.”

“Cut it out, Dan. Put that stuff back.”

 “Abracadabra, alakazaam!”

“You’re not funny, put it back.”

 “I can’t, it won’t come off my head.” Dan pulled at the hat. “I said cut it out.”

“Ryan, dude, I’m not joking, and it’s squeezing my head.”

Ryan turned when he heard Dan screaming in pain. He sprinted over to Dan and tried pulling on the hat, but it had formed a strong seal around his head.

Dan fell to the floor writhing in pain. “GET...IT...OFF!”

Ryan pulled at the hat again. A dusty, cloud of steam began to rise from under the hat. He backed up, gagging as the stench of burnt hair and flesh filled his nostrils

####

Happy Reading!

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

No Blog Posts?



No post yesterday, and none today. I've been dealing with a lot of pain since Saturday. Hopefully, I can get a post up for Where'd You Come Up With That? Wednesdays! tomorrow.

 


You still have 5 more days to get Stories to Wrap Your Mind Around: Volume 6 for free through Smashwords!

Sunday, September 8, 2024

Dad and Mom~ I Miss Them~

 The loss of a loved one is never easy. And just recently our family lost another brother. 

We lost both our parents to cancer. Mom died in  July 2013 and Dad in September 2014. I'd like to share a couple of poems for my parents who are gone from this earth but loved and thought of every day. 

Writing helps me cope and also knowing our creator has plans for us all beyond the here and now. I'll see them again! 💞


Daddy Did You Know?

Daddy, did you know you are stronger than superman

 more intelligent than Einstein, and funnier than Carson?

Your stories, more captivating than Shakespeare's.

A beautiful Mozart symphony can’t compare to your laughter.  

In this daughter’s eyes, you’re perfection.


A Mother's Love

A mother doesn't have to say, "I love you." 

It’s felt with every

Kiss on the forehead to check for a fever,

late-night trek to the bedroom to check for monsters under the bed,

bandage lovingly placed on a boo-boo,

and the proud look in her eyes with each new milestone achieved.


And one for my big brother we recently lost. 💔

God Saw Your Pain


God saw that your pain and sorrow 

was too much for you to carry on.

He knew you needed comfort that only the Father could give His son. 

So, as you closed your eyes and drifted off to rest, 

God embraced you as you drew your final breath.


We mourn our loss, 

but find comfort in knowing you are set free.

And wish you could have stayed longer

but understand that it wasn’t meant to be.


Happy Sunday! 

Friday, September 6, 2024

Gardening Articles ~Freelancing Life




 Before I started working for  Bazaarvoice, I was a full-time freelancer. My favorite niche was, and is, gardening. I wrote for Demand Studies and SF Gate for a few years. It was not the greatest company to work for, and I quickly found out I was not alone dissatisfied with it.

However, other writers have taken over my old articles from 10+ years ago. I do still have a few lingering online. 

Like this one, and it's now on a site called Week&. I found I have a handful left on the site. I do miss the gardening articles! 

I did some ghostwriting about yachts a few years back, too. I have no idea where they ended up! 😃

Freelancing is okay, but I'd rather spend my time writing fiction. And, as a freelancer you work on a project basis or for a content mill that underpays, so the money is not great unless you have a good gig lined up at all times.

 The freelance life isn't for everyone, I guess. I'd rather have the job I have now. I just jump online and do my work with no hassles. 

I'd like to eventually make enough money from my fiction books to do that full-time, but who knows if that will ever come to fruition. 

So for now, I read my product reviews for my day job and work on my books as much as possible. I still sometimes pick up some ghostwriting, but not as often as I used to. 


I leave you today with this little humorous little poem I wrote about eating holiday meals at the in-laws!


Prehistoric turkey
covered in an iceberg
of freezer burn. Who knows how
long it's been in that freezer? I'm frightened.
I don't want food poisoning again!
I pray for a
way out.

Slimy pie
Smells like baked beans
Oh, dear God! What is it?
What in the heck is mincemeat anyway?
Can I have some water, please?
My stomach is calling
Alka Seltzer!


Happy Reading!

Thursday, September 5, 2024

Creator's Nightlight~ Poetry

 


A little poem I wrote about the moon. After graduating  Ivy Tech College, I was invited to share some of my writing in a display in September 2012. I submitted some of my work, and "Creator's Nightlight" and "The Blooming Dog Story" were chosen for the display. 










You can read Creator's Nightlight" Below.









Incandescent sphere
Hovering in the Heavens
Orbiting Earth's atmosphere.
Creator's night light
glowing, reflecting, moonbeams
Elucidate the night sky.

Happy Reading!

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Where'd You Come Up With That?! ~ Wednesdays! "Secrets Never Die"

 

 "Secrets Never Die" is a flash fiction story written for a little contest on Writing.com. I came up with the idea because people always say they take secrets to the grave. That means no one will ever find out, right? 

In my story, this is not true. Aunt Beatrice ain't taking nothing with her! She comes back to spill all the tea. 


If you believe in life after death, then you should never believe someone's promise to take your secret to the grave! Especially someone who has years of gossip bottled up inside. 



Maybe secrets are never safe. 👀 I've posted the story below if you'd like to read it! 

Secrets Never Die


Susan’s delightful dream of relaxing on a beach in Hawaii surrounded by scantily clad natives was interrupted by a visit from her Aunt Beatrice.

 “Susan. Susan,” she whispered.

 “Aunt Beatrice?” Susan rubbed her eyes.

 “Yes, dear. It's me.” Beatrice sat with her legs crossed, hovering at the foot of Susan's bed.

 “I can't believe you're here.”

 “Look at me! I can cross my legs again. The old arthritis is gone. It isn't so bad on the other side.”

 “I'm happy to see you've adjusted so well to death.”

 “I have so much to tell you, dear.” Beatrice flashed a mischievous smile.

 Susan scooted closer to Beatrice. It would have to be important since she was visiting from the great beyond.

 “You remember Aunt Sally, don't you?”

 “Yeah.” Susan leaned forward, curious as to what her aunt had to say.

 “Well, she used to be Uncle Sal, and remember how your grandmother won all those blue ribbons at the fair for her homemade pies?”

 “Yeah, her cherry pie was my favorite.”

 “Well, she used a store-bought crust. And, you remember we were all surprised that your cousin Lenny's baby was so cute? He didn't get Lenny's big banana nose.”

 “Lenny?” Susan thought for a minute. “Oh yeah!” She started to giggle.

 “That's not even his baby. His wife had an affair, and you know how Mr. Brown said his wife ran off with another man?

 “Oh, I remember, he was so upset.”

 “She didn’t really run off, she’s taking a long nap under his new swimming pool. And, the young lady-”

 “Uh, Aunt Beatrice, I hate to interrupt, but why are all these things important enough for a visit from beyond?”

 “Important? Honey, I didn't say they were important. I promised to take these secrets to my grave, but I never promised what I'd do with them once I got here,” Beatrice chuckled.

 “How many secrets do you have bottled up?” Susan asked.

 “Oh, about fifty years’ worth.”

 “Okay. Let me get comfortable. I have a feeling it’s going to be a long night."



Happy Reading! 

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

One Of Those Days! ~ A Poem First Published in Everyday Weirdness



 Have you ever had one of those days

that’s just like all those other,

One of those days?

 

And end up in all the same places

that you always visited during,

One of those days?

 

And you run into the same people

With the same expressions on their faces

that you always saw,

On one of those days?

 

And did you ever hear the exact conversations

that you overheard before

by those same people

That you saw,

On one of those days?

 

And have you been ready to

pull your hair out,

just like you always do,

when you’re having,

One of those days?

 

So, you run home and

jump under the covers.

Only to toss and turn

just like you've always done after having,

One of those days.

 

Then, while drifting off to sleep,

You hope tomorrow will be different

But when you wake…

 

It’s just another one of those days

Just like all those other,

one of those days.


Happy Reading! 

Monday, September 2, 2024

Classic Movie Mondays!~ Dangerous




Just a reminder that I LOVE Bette Davis! 😁 However, I was a bit disappointed in this movie. 

Bette plays an actress Joyce Heath, who is supposedly jinxed and can't get work anymore. So, what does she do? She becomes a raging alcoholic! 

Franchot Tone plays Don Bellows, a man engaged, but easily distracted by Joyce. 

The movie takes off when Don sees Joyce in a restaurant and lies to his fiance and friend, so they'll leave without him and he can talk to Joyce.

Of course, she is drunk. Don tells her how much he loved watching her perform and that she inspired him.  Joyce doesn't care, she just wants to drink. She does, and she passes out. 




Don takes her to his country home for the night to sober up. The next morning, he convinces her to stay there while he's in the city. He believes some time in the country without alcohol can help her. 

BUT... the two fall in love, and Don breaks off his engagement. 




Don's put money into a play, so Joyce can return to theatre and prove she isn't a jinx. Don's plans are falling into place until Joyce repeatedly turns down his marriage proposals.

WHY? They are in love! There's this little secret Joyce has-- a husband who won't give her a divorce. 




Joyce, desperate to marry Don, tricks her ex and asks him to drive to the country with her for the weekend. He agrees. On the way, Joyce threatens to drive into a tree if she doesn't give her a divorce. He says no, again! 😕

Joyce says, "It's either going to be your life or mine. If you're killed, I'll be free. If I'm killed it really doesn't matter. If we both die-good riddance!"

Joyce drives head-on into a tree, but her husband lives. She's devastated. 

Don rushes to the hospital to see Joyce, only to find out she has a husband. He leaves without seeing her. 

Joyce wants Don, but he returns to his fiance and marries. Joyce is left with an injured husband she doesn't love. She'll spend the rest of her life taking care of him. 


I DID NOT like the ending. I know it has to be this way because Don had to find out the hard way how "dangerous" Joyce really is. 

I hoped for a change in her, but I guess the ending had to fit the title. She truly was an awful person. Maybe not a jinx but self-centered. 


"I'm bad for people. I don't mean to be, but I can't help myself." Joyce Heath


Would I watch it again? Maybe?

It's not a bad movie, and it does have some good scenes, it's just not as good as her other films. 

 If you get a chance to watch it, I'd say go for it! 




Saturday, August 31, 2024

Home Again~ A Short Story

 Death can turn your life upside down. It wasn’t easy saying goodbye to my parents, and then it was time to let go of my childhood home. I was driving to meet a couple who might want to buy it.

 On the car ride, my mind was spilling over with childhood memories of past holidays: the chaos of a house full of cousins, people laughing, sharing stories, and enjoying their time together. My vision blurred as tears filled my eyes. How could I say goodbye to it all? My entire childhood—my past?

 When I arrived, I hurried up the sidewalk to the house, twisted the key in the lock, and flung the door open. I was home.

 I stood gazing at the staircase my brother and I used to race down every Christmas morning. I stared into the living room. In the corner of that room, there were indentions on the carpet where my dad’s recliner sat for as long as I could remember. I could still see him leaning back with a book on his chest and his glasses pulled down on his nose, snoring.

 I went into the kitchen where Mom spent many Sunday afternoons baking cookies. I don’t think I could put a number on the peanut butter sandwiches, glasses of Kool-Aid, and warm fresh cookies my friends and I enjoyed in that kitchen. Oh, and the aroma of fresh rolls and a turkey baking on Thanksgiving that wafted out of that kitchen still made my stomach growl.

 I walked over to the sink and gazed out the window at the backyard. Outback sat an old rusty swing set. My brother and I tried to see who could swing the highest. Of course, it wasn’t so run down back then. It was green with white stripes at one time. I smiled as I thought back to the time I fell off the slide and bloodied my knees. My dad rushed out to me, wiped away my tears, took me inside, and put bandages on my wounds.

 As I stood there reminiscing, a quote came to mind from one of my favorite authors, Thomas Wolfe. He said, “You can’t go home again.” I always thought that quote was correct, but the more I thought about it, I had to disagree. While another family will own this home, and I’ll never be able to walk through those doors again, this house is only a structure. I’ll always be able to return home as long as I have my memories. Time spent with my family is what made that house a home.

 I can close my eyes and go home to my memories anytime.

Friday, August 30, 2024

FREE BOOK WITH COUPON!

Two posts in one day!


Free Book! Use coupon code LGETZ and get Stories to Wrap Your Mind Around: Volume 6 free through September 15th or when the 50 free coupons run out, whichever comes first. 

The catch? There's always a catch! 😟 You can only use this coupon for Smashwords   But you can download the book and read it on any Epub reader.

Taste of Freedom

Phyllis finds the perfect ingredient for her stew and gets her taste of freedom.

Hunting the Scullywiggins

The last memory Ben has is hunting the scullywiggins. He awakes to find he's being detained in an unfamiliar location.

Give It a Few Days

Cheryl may have a valid reason for rejecting the truth.

  East of Omaha

A case of mistaken identity that is truly twisted and unfortunate.

The Crayon Box

Even though he may seem innocent, this young boy has a distorted


 I'll have other promotions coming up soon!

If you do read it, please consider leaving a review. 💖


Happy Reading!



Flashlight Soldiers~ Poem

  

They are the flashlight soldiers,

And always come prepared

With pockets bulging with batteries

And the vow to “not be scared.”

 

They hunt beneath a moonlit sky

 Shadows lurking in the dark

Neutralizing them with their light beams

To banish them from the park.

 

The hunt continues for many hours

Until the night air carries their name

Halfheartedly, they say their good-byes

Agreeing tomorrow, they'll continue the game.

 

Once inside, they brush their teeth,

While protesting their bedtime, they yawn.

The cicadas sing in the cool night air

As night shadows creep across the lawn.

Thursday, August 29, 2024

J. Jenks~ A Flash Fiction Story


Detective Jeremy Jenkins had spent forty years solving some of the police department's most difficult cases, but the company forced him to retire. He probably would have had ten more good years if it wasn't for the car accident that left him paralyzed. The sixty-seven-year-old man now lived in a three-room apartment with his companion, Chumpy, his pet monkey.

 Some say that old J. Jenks, a name his coworkers gave him, had gone a little crazy. He stayed cooped up in that small apartment with a monkey. But J. Jenks continued to work cases from his apartment window.

 "That wraps up the case of Lady in Yellow. She is not cheating on the gentlemen in 425. I've discovered the other gentleman caller is her brother." Jeremy closed his tattered old briefcase, rubbing his thumb across the gold engraving of his initials J.J. just like he had done when closing a case years ago. "Chumpy, it's time to find a new case." Jeremy wheeled over to the window and watched the apartment building across the street.

 "Chumpy, my binoculars!" He snapped his fingers.

 Chumpy leaped over to Jeremy with what he demanded and perched on Jeremy's shoulder. "You see that boy? That man just threw a mysterious package in the dumpster. I think I found our next case: The Dumpster Delinquent. It may have been drugs."

 Startled by the microwave beeping, Jeremy dropped his binoculars. "Chumpy, my pasta dinner," He ordered, snapping his fingers. Chumpy rushed to the microwave, retrieved the bowl of pasta, and took it to Jeremy.

 As Jeremy ate, he watched the alley to see if anyone came to pick up the package, but no one showed. The trash truck came and emptied the dumpster. "Another case closed, Chumpy. The package was ordinary trash."

 Jeremy jotted a few notes and closed his briefcase. He stared out the window. Tears filled his old, tired eyes. "I was one of the best back in the day," he muttered.

Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Where'd You Come Up With That? ~ Wednesdays!

I usually write these posts with one story in mind, but I'm doing things differently today. I'd like to write about coming up with ideas in general. 

If you've ever seen Ray Bradbury Theater, he says he'll never run out of ideas because he's surrounded by items that inspire him. (he's one of my favorite authors btw!)





This is spot on. A writer's brain is always in story mode, so anything a writer hears, sees, or even smells can trigger an idea. Sometimes it is just a title that comes to mind, and the story shapes around it. Other times it's an idea that has been done before, but needs a new twist. 

My short story, East of Omaha, was inspired by Bob Seger's song. "On a long lonesome highway, east of Omaha" That line made me think of hitchhikers, but it has to be a twist on the usual tales of picking up strangers. And the story has a different type of driver and hitchhiker encounter. One that ends up with some mistaken identity. 

My short story, Taste of Freedom, started with the title. I like the sound of it, but needed a story to fit. I had an idea for a story about a wife who goes a little berzerk. She goes to great lengths to get rid of her husband and literally gets her taste of freedom. (yes, there may be some cannibalism involved 👀)

Some ideas come from strange facts I've read. I have a title and story that came to mind when I read that a person can die from smelling farts in large volumes. 
The story I'm working on is entitled, "The Mason Jar Murders," and it's a crime/detective story. It is also a bit bizarre--as you probably guessed! 😂

Ideas pop up everywhere when a writer's brain is constantly in story mode! 

Happy Reading!




Tuesday, August 27, 2024

Rejection Is a Four Letter Word!

 




If you're a writer, I'm sure you'll agree that rejection is a four-letter word. No one likes rejection, and when you're a writer it's a normal part of everyday life. 

At first, I let rejection get me down. I doubted my ability to write. I've taken long breaks, but I always come back to writing. I love it! 

So, I don't deal with it the way I used to.


I used to take every rejection to heart until I had an epiphany. The editors, the people behind the rejection letters, are just opinions. What one editor doesn't accept, there are many more editors out there with differing opinions. 

I can't expect every person to like every story or book I write. It takes work to find the right editor, publication, and the right audience. 

So, I'll read the rejection. If it comes along with some notes and suggestions, I also consider them. But, at the end of the day, it's my story and if I like it, somewhere in this large world other people might love it, too!

Everyone has opinions and that's okay. I'll keep writing and remember rejections are one person's perspective.


Happy Reading!