#IWSG NOVEMBER: Write the Book You Want to Read

                                                    

 

Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We discuss our fears, insecurities, ups and downs of the writing process and post the first Wednesday of every month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

Remember, the question is optional!!!

November 4 question - Albert Camus once said, “The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.” Flannery O’Conner said, “I write to discover what I know.” Authors across time and distance have had many reasons to write. Why do you write what you write?

 

My awesome co-hosts for the November 4 posting of the IWSG are Jemi Fraser, Kim Lajevardi, L.G Keltner, Tyrean Martinson, and Rachna Chhabria!

"Write the book that you want to read."

This quote sums up the reason I write. When I run out of good books to read, I never panic, because I always fall back on my writing. Crafting a novel is the beginning of an exciting journey! 

I don't write to change the world. I write to escape, to enjoy life, to lose myself in a good book. 

Hope you had a wonderful Halloween! Can't believe it's already November. Anyone doing NaNo? I discovered another middle grade mystery series. I'll let you know next month my thoughts. So far, it's promising! 

AtoZ Theme Reveal: "America's Hometown-Hannibal, MO"

You might be wondering what makes Hannibal, Missouri "America's Hometown." Aren't all small towns nestled along the Mississippi River a piece of American history? What makes this place stand out from the rest? American novelist and humorist, Mark Twain, grew up in Hannibal. His boyhood home is only a stones throw from the Big River. My family has made this place our home for the past seven years.

We will explore Hannibal, Mark Twain's stomping grounds, where all of his real-life shenanigan's took place. You will also learn of a feisty female in history who was born just a half-mile from Mark Twain's home. We'll also talk fiction. After all, Mark Twain was one of the greatest fiction writers of all time. His humor and wit inspire me everyday as as I walk in his footsteps. Hope to see you on April 1st for a fun, photographic journey of Twain's town.

Downtown Hannibal, MO

Are you participating in the AtoZ Challenge? Have you ever visited Hannibal? What's your favorite small town? Thanks for stopping by!

PHOTOS: all photos are mine unless otherwise stated.

March IWSG: Comfort Zone

Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We post the first Wednesday of every month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

I crossed the finish line this past month, writing my first ever upper, middle-grade urban fantasy. Now, it rests in the hands of my CP's and beta readers. I'm already receiving an overwhelming amount of positive feedback! This past fall, I stepped out of my comfort zone to try my hand at writing an urban fantasy which is 50% contemporary and 50% fantasy (where magical elements aren't the norm) and it's set in a city, hence the word, urban. For a genre I've never written before, this means the world to me!!

I may only ever write UF fiction for the rest of my life. NO I don't write about vampires and werewolves or zombies, unless you count the zombie-like MC waking up in the middle of the night. It's something new and fresh and derived from my overactive imagination and my love for sci-fi and all things retro. I will be pitching it as Night at the Museum meets The Matrix.

I'm looking forward to the AtoZ Blogging Challenge next month where I will also be a Sidekick for the contest. This time I'm getting ahead of the game by writing my posts in the month of March. As far as my theme, I will leave you with a hint in the form of a question:

What famous author grew up on the Mississippi River?

Have you ever written out of your comfort zone? Do you trust your work to CP's and beta readers? Are you participating in the AtoZ Blogging Challenge next month? Hope to see you there!

Photo: mine (notice my daughter playing in the fountain!)

February IWSG: Suprises

Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We post the first Wednesday of every month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

I hate surprises in life. Probably because most of the time they sound like this: "Mom, the car has a flat tire." "Mom, the car won't start. "Mom, I have the flu." "Mom, I need twenty bucks by tomorrow for (fill in the blank)." The worst one is when coach calls me, "Your son, (pick one) broke his (fill in the blank), or has a concussion, needs stitches."

Surprises in writing, movies and t.v. series are a whole other story. I love to be surprised when it comes to a good book or my fave show. For example, my new found appreciation for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has surprised me more than once. (Spoiler Alert!!) When Agent Grant Ward stands up, ready to shoot his psychopathic SO, John Garret, instead, he aims the gun at Shield's President Victoria Hand and pulls the trigger. I figured he kept hidden loyalties to the man that practically raised him, but I didn't see that coming. Surprise.


With my finished WIP, my characters have continually surprised me, leading me down unexpected paths. I like to keep myself guessing when writing. Will this character turn out good or is he lost forever? Will he get what he wants in the end? Will he sacrifice people and friendships along the way?

I just read a quote recently: (Summarizing it) "If you are not surprised as the writer of your story, you can bet your readers (yawn) won't be either."I purposefully try to do the opposite of the norm. I even ask myself, "What would be totally unexpected in this scene?" Surprise the reader and you will hook them for sure. I hope this month is full of great surprises in your writing pursuits.

How have you added surprise elements in your story? Think of your favorite books and shows. What surprises did they have up their sleeves?

P.S. I did get a nice surprise yesterday. My oldest son is now ranked 6th in division 3 (weight class-182 #s) Missouri High School wrestling. 

Photo: courtesy of free photos.

January IWSG: Back to the Future

Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We post the first Wednesday of every month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

Alex wanted us to post a short bio about ourselves this month.

I am motivated by my kids, my family and my faith in Christ. When I was a kid, I always dreamed of becoming a detective or a secret agent. Don't judge. Since I didn't join the CIA, I became a fifth grade teacher, but I retired early from teaching to become a writer. I'm hooked on the t.v. show Chuck. One of my favorite series is the Alex Rider series based on a fourteen-year-old MI6 agent. The Cold War fascinates me: microfiche, cryptology, code breaking, the KGB. I do enjoy foreign languages and can fly a plane, so, hey, maybe there's hope for me as a spy someday. 

I write middle-grade fiction and enjoy going back in time to my eighth grade year and the 1980's. My writing also reflects the possibilities the future can bring. Because I have two teenage boys, my novels end up written from a male, first-person POV with geeky, humorous protagonists. My current WIP is set in contemporary Chicago, centered around an ancient relic with enough 80's references to indulge the parents of said middle-grade readers. Of course, the pages overflow with lies, spies and secret government projects, bringing to life some interesting objects and characters.

Let's do this.

My top 5 New Year's Resolutions:

1. Watch Back to the Future on October 21, 2015. You'll get this date if you've seen the movie. (If you haven't seen it, I just don't, can't understand.)  I'm still undecided which is the greatest 80's movie of all time: Back to the Future or Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
2. Finish writing my new WIP. This one is my re-worked YA novel turned back to MG and switched from a mystery to an Urban Fantasy. I'm having way more fun than I ever imagined. Goal: make final edits by March.
3. Not get the flu. (You don't even want to know. So far, so good.)
4. Become the best writer I can be. There is always room for improvement. Be humble. Keep learning.
5. Be patient. Always working on this one.

Maybe the year 2014 didn't fulfill your dreams or expectations. Is 2015 already headed in the wrong direction? I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. There's always a lesson to be learned from our experiences. And you can always include them in your writing.

2015

Have you made any resolutions this year? What things do you like to include in your writing? Let's settle the debate. Which movie do you like better: Back to the Future or Ferris Bueller's Day Off? 

December IWSG: Groundhog Day, Ultimatums and Disappointments

Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We post the first Wednesday of every month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

My blog is stuck in an Adam Brody Groundhog Day movie mode--he just keeps reappearing over and over in my posts. Humor me. He encompasses everything MG writers strive to portray in their characters: nerdy, cute, geeky, funny, vulnerable, still trying to figure out their role in this world.

I gave my work-in-progress an ultimatum.

Remember I started a YA thriller set in Chicago this past summer? I placed it on the back burner while promoting and working on my MG mystery for the Pitch Wars contest. In the back of my mind, my WIP failed to deliver. So I gave it an ultimatum. Get it together or you'll end up in the shredder. I went back to the beginning and started over. Notice I didn't give up or quit. I did discover some things about myself in the process.

1. I write MG, not YA.Who am I kidding? My silliness won't end even after they've shoved me in a nursing home.

2. I must incorporate humor into my writing or die of serious boredom. I can't keep a straight face for more than a few seconds.

3. I have two sources of endless inspiration right in front of me. My teenage boys keep me loaded with writing ammunition. I must always take advantage of their mishaps and misfortunes.

After the ultimatum was settled upon, I took the middle of my WIP and made it the "hook." Lowered the age of the protagonist. Dropped the YA and made it into my favorite age group--MG. Added way more humor. Kept it in Chicago. Changed it from a thriller to a mystery. I haven't been this excited about something since I got out of jury duty last month. 

A quick word about disappointment: 

It happens to all of us. Even small victories can be overshadowed in the light of a huge disappointment.The rejections will roll in, sometimes right on top of each other like a tsunami. You will have to pick yourself up off the bathroom floor or the ocean floor and sit your butt back in your writing chair and write. Write better, harder, smarter. You can do it. You have to do it. Because no one else is going to do it for you. IF you are going to make it in this writing world, you better learn how to overcome disappointments. OVERCOME quickly and get back to work.

"The biggest laughs are based on the biggest disappointments and the biggest fears." Kurt Vonnegut 

How have you dealt with disappointment? Have you ever re-worked a WIP? Were you happy with the changes? What are some things about yourself that you have discovered from your writing?

IWSG: Pitch Wars and 15 Minutes of Sleep

Come join me in the IWSG group created by Alex Cavanaugh. We post the first Wednesday of each month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

This month flew by in hurricane fashion. Does anyone else feel like they just drank ten cups of coffee while running the NYC marathon? Watch this 27 second video and see for yourself my current state of mind.

With more dental appointments this past month than I've had in a lifetime, including a root canal and two rounds of antibiotics, I still can't feel my face. During my youngest teenage son's first wrestling practice of the season last night, he collided with a chin and now has three staples in the back of his head. I may need another shot of espresso.

Did I mention stressing to the max over jury duty that I didn't even get selected for? The court convened on a balmy 80 degree day while the inside of the building was a sweltering 110 degrees. The one hundred-year-old court house, complete with no air conditioning, was a picture of the past. I got stuck in the cheap seats, wooden benches so old I'm sure Mark Twain sat in one a time or two. Maybe he died on one. I'm surprised the place had running water. The plaintiff, defendant and a dozen lawyers sat in lazy boy chairs, sipping ice cold bottled water. During a short break, I wandered out into the hallway to get a lukewarm drink of water from the barely working water fountain. Seriously, I don't make this stuff up. Nine hours later, I was dismissed with spinal injuries and heat exhaustion.

On a better note, Brenda Drake's Pitch Wars contest is winding down and the agent round is this week. Writers tend to be more stressed than other people that's why we drink lots of coffee. We should probably sleep for more than fifteen minutes though, right? 

Just exchange the word "writer" for "Cohen" and you're all set.

Rooting for all my fellow Pitch Wars friends! Have you ever been completely stressed out of your mind and excited about something at the same time? 

Gilmore Girls, Villains and Jury Duty

To celebrate the arrival of Gilmore Girls on Netflix, I fired up the coffee maker and slapped on my sarcasm and wit. Yes, I'm binge watching. Don't judge. I must mention the only permanent cast member that cracks me up more than any other character is Kirk--human-Kirk, not cat-Kirk. I watched the show when it debuted back in 2000 and dreamed of living in Stars Hollow.

Every timeless television series features an unforgettable antagonist. After all, what would a story be without the person who opposes one of the main characters? Boring. Well, I did some pondering while watching Gilmore Girls and my little writer's eye spied Lane's mother, Mrs. Kim. She has great hopes and aspirations for Lane to have a Korean boyfriend. Mrs. Kim stands in direct opposition to Lane's eternal happiness: a boy in Lane's rock band and her love interest, Dave Rygalski, played by Adam Brody. Lane (Rory Gilmore's best friend) creatively thwarts her mother's plans to ruin her life. BTW, the "Lane and Dave" story line is the best thing that ever happened to Gilmore Girls. 

The story line in a nutshell consists of Lane getting a fake Korean boyfriend to please her mom because Lane is secretly in love with Dave. If her mother found out, she'd be grounded until she was 35. Lane and her fake boyfriend make a plan to have her fake boyfriend who also has a fake Korean girlfriend (not Lane) break up with her. Try to keep up. Her mom will then feel sorry for her and allow her to go to the prom with Dave. Things never go as planned. The fake boyfriend breaks up with his fake girlfriend and begins to fall in love with Lane.

Meanwhile, Dave gets a little jealous of Lane's fake boyfriend and a little tired of keeping their attraction for each other a secret. One night, all goes awry when Lane confesses everything to her mom. The unexpected happens. Lane's mom shows no reaction. Her quiet, somber mood freaks Lane out. My favorite episode is when Dave shows up at Lane's door, confesses his "crush" and asks if he can take Lane to the prom. He faces the antagonist, ready to make a deal with the devil, but is shocked at Mrs. Kim's response.

Watch Dave's famous monologue if you are a fan of Gilmore Girls, Adam Brody or a fan of humor. Villains fight for what they believe in just as much as the protagonist. In this case, Mrs. Kim just wants to shield her daughter from the world (and boys). Did I mention boys? It's a worthy goal for a mother. And remember, folks, Dave flosses.

The final countdown to the Pitch Wars contest agent round has begun. I'm experiencing a root canal on Thursday and Jury Duty next Monday. Just watch the video and you will see a reflection of my disheveled self. "I can't feel my right elbow anymore." (Just watch the video:)


How's your week going? Worse than mine? Have you spotted some well-played villains lately? Have you written antagonists that aren't pure evil and have a heart?

IWSG: Get Your Game Face On: Publishers vs Agents

Come join me in the IWSG group created by Alex Cavanaugh. We post the first Wednesday of each month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

Name: Jennifer L. Hawes and I write upper middle-grade fiction.
Website: http://www.jenniferlhawes.com/ or on my Blog: http://www.jenniferswritingrevolution.blogspot.com/
Title: Publishers vs Agents
I give the Insecure Writer's Support Group permission to use all or part of this blog post.

When signing with a small to medium sized publisher (or self-publishing), you will most likely design your own book marks, plan book signings and school appearances. Be prepared to do a lot of work. You must make contacts with other writers, libraries, book clubs, bloggers and organizations to promote your book. There were many things I enjoyed about having a small publisher for my debut novel, but many things I'd do differently. Publishers represent your book (to some degree) while agents represent you, your book and your future books.

For my current, finished novel, I am seeking a literary agent. My experiences have left me feeling like I just won the lottery to losing the State Championship game in sudden death overtime. Let me warn you. You will be forced to play the WAITING game. This game is NOT fun. It freaks you out every second of every minute that you WAIT for them to read your requested full. (And the dozen or so other ones they've requested from other writers.)

Don't settle and don't quit. Put your best work out there. Follow agents and Writer's Digest on Twitter. Don't forget to be professional with agents. Always address them by name. Always include some of the qualities that match your book to their #MSWL (Twitter hashtag for "manuscript wish list") or go to their website. And for the love of all that is holy, follow submission guidelines. If they are closed to submissions, DO NOT QUERY THEM.

BE PATIENT. This is not for the faint of heart. You must be strong--warrior strong, line-backer strong. Paint your game face on and race to the line of scrimmage and WAIT for the big game to start. You CAN do this!
(I tell myself this every morning.)


Tell me about your experience with publishers vs. agents. What do you like/dislike about both? Do you enjoy self promotion? How do you handle the "waiting game"? 

IWSG September 2014: "Wait for It."

Come join me in the IWSG group created by Alex Cavanaugh. We post the first Wednesday of each month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html












As we all know, the writing process is forever a waiting game. Shawn Spencer said it best, "Wait for iiiiiit." Yes, if you want to perfect your craft, publish your work, promote your writing and enter contests, it all takes TIME.

I entered Brenda Drake's #PitchWars contest in August. We found out the winners last night. That was the longest three weeks of my life. Waiting and hoping and praying I'd make it into this contest, was a true challenge of faith and stamina. And for the record, I did make it into the contest as an alternate. I am indeed honored! There were 75 mentors and thousands of contestants, but they could only pick one mentee and one alternate.

Everyday on Twitter, since the contest opened, the mentors reminded us to wait patiently. They mentioned the endless waiting game in the writing industry. If we are to succeed in this business, we must WAIT FOR IT.



What you have waited for in the past or are you waiting for something right now? Did you ever give up on something that you wish you had been more patient with?

IWSG: "Get Back to Work, or You're Fired!"

Come join me in the IWSG group created by Alex Cavanaugh. We post the first Wednesday of each month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

Benson's familiar words to Mordecai and Rigby from Regular Show ring in my ears, "Get back to work, or you're fired!" My words to myself, "Get back to writing; vacation's over." I'm back to my old writing self, somewhat. The kids start school in a few weeks. Feel free to join me in singing these words, "It's the most wonderful time of the year..."

Don't get me wrong. I do love my kids, just not in my face the entire summer, eating all of the food in the house like rabid racoons. I admit, the more I hang with my homies (my teenage sons) the more I write the funny, the unexpected, the real-life stuff that makes MG my fave genre.

As you know I'm on the path to securing an agent for my upper middle grade mystery. It's funny how you can feel worthless after a few rejections. Even when they say, "It's not you, it's me." I know this field is so subjective, but it still stings. I  try to remember all great authors have been rejected. Then things can quickly change. It feels like I won the lottery when I got one partial and two full requests! In the meantime, I'm going to enter Brenda Drake's #PitchWars. You should check it out if you are interested in getting an agent. It's for finished adult, YA and MG manuscripts. The 75 mentors choose one person to mentor their ms over a two month period.

So, I tried finishing my YA thriller set in Chicago (I will finish it!), but then the idea for my next mystery, the second in this series, hit me in the gut like a football tackle. I'm loving where this story is headed. If you see me stalking my sons, it's for research purposes. I seriously can't make this stuff up. 

I hope you have enjoyed your summer. Do you have a fear of rejection? Are you back to work--writing? What are you waiting for? Oh, yeah, the kids...to leave the house. Gotcha!

Vacation Inspiration

Well, I survived a week of family visiting us at our house, followed by a week of vacation in the Wisconsin Dells with the same (and more) family, followed by yet another week of more family members at our house this past week.

I thought I'd feature some highlights from our trip. Because a writer's brain never stops and inspiration always lurks behind the next photograph.

Storms. They blasted their way through the state. Thankfully, we just missed the big one that blew through Iowa and Illinois with straight line winds up to 100 mph. Tornado Alley runs through Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois, so we're programmed to dive for cover at a moment's notice. I kept my eye on all of the "Emergency Exit Only" doors throughout the week. Here's a shot of the theme park Mount Olympus before another storm. Mt. Olympus is the world's largest outdoor/indoor water park, featuring roller coasters, gigantic wave pools, water slides and other rides.

The Dells originally was a destination for non-mega theme parks. Boat tours on the Wisconsin River along with hiking tours were the main attraction led by the man who made the Dells famous, H. H. Bennett, Father of the Dells. He was the first person to ever take a photograph of something in motion. His photography studio/museum still stands on Broadway Street.

Baraboo is the town located right next to the Dells and is home to the Circus World Museum where five of the Ringling Brothers started a circus in 1884. Two more brothers joined the Ringling Brothers Circus and eventually bought out Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1907 and created The Greatest Show on Earth.

The diverse shops located downtown will make you stay and play or read and relax. Because every used book store should have pianos and puppies...

Baraboo is also home to Devil's Lake and the bluffs. My sons visited two weeks prior to our vacation with their youth group. This is why I chose not to tag alone, and I always close my eyes when they show me pics like these...(And you can now see why my son was the inspiration for Free Runner.)

And for all you Percy Jackson fans, I found Zeus, Medusa and Hades all in one place at the Mount Olympus theme park:

I hope you are having a wonderful, memory-filled summer! Now, back to working on my books and cleaning my house. What have you been doing this summer?

IWSG: Staying Positive

Come join me in the IWSG group created by Alex Cavanaugh. We post the first Wednesday of each month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

First, I have some really good news:

 FREE RUNNER was awarded Honorable Mention in the 2014 Purple Dragonfly 

Children's Book Awards!!!

I should've named my post "Staying Alive." My agenda this summer includes surviving a family vacation with my teenage sons, tearing apart my house and cleaning it from limb to limb, and submitting my middle-grade mystery to agents.

"Clean it up and make it interesting. This involves rewriting until you feel like you need a bone marrow transplant." -Brian Beker

If you are in need of a sharp editing tool, I encourage you to try Noah Lukeman's book, The First Five Pages. If you are in need of someone to clean your house, please don't call me. With ten people in my house this past week, I'm trying to stay positive. I may need to call Servpro--"like it never happened."

I'm on vacation this week with my hubby, two teenage sons and one little princess. Yes, there will be stories to share.
  
Are you in the process of editing? Are you taking a break and enjoying a vacation this summer? What's your favorite book on writing? Do you agree with the quote by Beker?!

#TFIOS, Chris O'Donnell, and a Selfie

I watched the movie trailer for #TFIOS (The Fault in Our Stars by John Green) and bawled my eyes out. I'm only on chapter seven, but I know how it's going to end. No, I didn't read any spoilers. I just know. It's one of those books that sucks you in from page one with witty dialogue and intriguing, intelligent characters and won't let you go. How can I go to the movies and watch this without a dozen boxes of Kleenex? It leaves all the YA chic lit books, with hot guys on the covers, in a pile of dust.

The story resonates with me because I have teenagers. To have one of your children endure cancer and suffer their loss would be pure agony. One person said the heartbreak was more felt and seen through the eyes of the parents. John Green, you know how to make us laugh out loud, weep and experience blood shot eyes for weeks.

So, on a different note, some of you from the A to Z blogging challenge this past April might
remember my admiration for actor Chris O'donnell. (Notice I didn't say "obsession." Although, that might be a more accurate description but not in a creepy, stalker kind of way.) Growing up, I idolized this star, because that's what you do when you're a teenager. I guess I retweeted a pic of him during NCIS:LA's #ShowNShare week. CBS sent me a prize: an autographed photo of CHRIS O'DONNELL! Was not expecting this. Will encase it in bullet proof glass.

Yep, that's me. I don't always take selfies, but when I do it's because I'm one of the biggest NCIS:LA fans this side of the Mississippi. And, yes, that's the Mississippi River behind me. I'm also really into the series, Burn Notice, right now. What's up with me and all these spy guys?!


What are you reading this summer? I still have loads of books to read: The Murder Complex, Nerve, Hacker are just a few on my list. By my book choices, can you guess I'm still in the middle of writing my teen spy thriller set in Chicago?What are your thoughts on #TFIOS ? Have you read the book or seen the movie yet? 

It's a "Cruel Summer."

Memories of my childhood summers play flashbacks of the movie, The Karate Kid, along with Bananarama's song, "Cruel Summer." My oldest son (the kid with the brand-spanking-new driver's license in his pocket) loves to turn up the radio when "retro lunch hour" starts playing my songs. I humor him and sing along to Bryan Adams or Tears for Fears. After he picks himself up off the floorboard of the car and stops laughing, he heads off to football weight training or wrestling open mat.

My summers in the 80's were spent without a single planned activity and with a sense of freedom. I don't remember ever seeing a parent at the park two blocks from my house. Did I mention the mandatory "no helmet law" back then? Bike helmets hadn't been invented yet. We cruised down the big hill on a bike with two occupants on the banana seat, one on the handle bars and another one attached to the back with a rope and a skateboard. If we sustained an injury, we slapped on a band aid and hobbled along to the next event. It's a wonder we survived our road trip to Florida in my family's blue station wagon. In the very back of our Plymouth was a  rear-facing seat to the world. Seat belts had been invented, but our parents thought it cruel to restrict our movements in a moving missile.

In an earlier post I mentioned my sister and I hiking in the back woods of Illinois, along the railroad tracks and through an insane asylum just to get to the municipal swimming pool. No X-box, cell phones or internet (the Dark Ages, for sure) back then. Atari arrived in the 70's and became popular in the 80's. My uncle, four hours away, owned one. I would never trade my childhood summers for today's scheduled three months off in a million years. I still swoon when I hear the music to the movie The Karate Kid, the first movie I ever watched on a VCR.
Happy "Cruel Summer" !

How will you spend your summer? What's the craziest, most daring thing you ever did during your childhood summer vacation?

IWSG: Overwhelmed & Excited

 My kids have invaded my house for summer vacation & I am feeling overwhelmed. I'm praying for no house fires, broken bones or car accidents (oldest son is now driving.) Writing with kids in the house can be difficult. But I will continue to write and edit, waking up early to accomplish my goals. And why bother cleaning my house this summer? It's just going to stay messy until August.

The birthday girl!

Today, I am also feeling excited because we are celebrating my baby girl's fifth birthday. The feeling of excitement also stems from my upcoming family vacation (moms & writers need a break!) and book signing. During the "Twain on Main" festival over Memorial Day weekend, I met someone special walking the streets of Hannibal. The local news even snagged an interview with the legendary Mark Twain. I feel privileged to live in such a literary town!

Join me at The Mark Twain Museum on July 19th for a book signing!

Do you have a house full of kids this summer? How do you deal with all the stress? Do you have any vacations planned this summer? What are your writing goals for the summer months?

Numbers: A Writer's Phobia

I admit I have a general math phobia. My finished WIP features a protagonist who struggles with math. And to top it off, his arch nemesis loves math, lives for math, excels in math. But I want to be more specific in my phobia. I'm saying I have a weird phobia--of even numbers. For some odd reason, I only pick odd numbers. In my debut, I used the number 3 several times. Three was my volleyball number and the number of the cute quarterback I had a crush on in junior high. In my finished WIP, 13 was my special number. But for good reasons. A thirteen- year-old boy is trying to solve a thirteen-year-old crime. In my current WIP, I started using only odd numbers again. But I'm trying to conquer my phobia. I've slapped my hand so many times as I try to change my ways. Two security guards (three sounds more believable). Four squad cars (back up should be at least five). Six minutes on the clock (why not seven?)

On the other hand, I love to photograph numbers. As I was searching for number 13's around town, I found the high school football stadium had spray painted numbers on their parking spots. I jumped out of my Jeep to take a photo but noticed I had parked in the even spaces. Numerophobia or arithmophobia is the fear of numbers. Is there a phobia for avoiding even numbers? Give me three minutes and I can find the answer. I have a long road to recovery.

Do you have any phobias as a writer? Do you enjoy math? What always creeps back into your novels? A certain number or word or phrase?

 NEWS ALERT:

If you happen to be cruising down the river on a river boat, barge or raft on Saturday, July 19th, hop off at the Hannibal port and swing by The Mark Twain Museum and join me for a book signing. I'd love to meet you!
Time TBA


Photo Credits: All photos are mine and found on my Instagram.