IWSG: If I could . . .

If I could sleep sitting up on the overnight train to Abu Simbel along the Nile River in Egypt, would I? Or climb beneath a pyramid, tons of stone above me? Or sail around the Horn, walk the same path with penguins skirting the sandy rocks, or stand in awe before Van Gogh's self portrait in Paris, tour groups passing at breakneck speed around me?

Yes, I have done these things and more. I have not been afraid. I felt privileged to see the world with my true love beside me. Would I choose such travel over that house in the suburbs? Yes. Journal in hand, I have written my way all through my life. 

You might ask what began your writing life. I can answer quite simply. In high school, so many decades ago, reading books and writing were an escape. I grew up in a family of alcoholics, frequent moves in and out of foster homes, and nightmarish incidents (the night one of my stepfathers took down the front door with an axe being one). I left at seventeen and never looked back. Worked my way through college. Became a writing teacher, and on retiring, Allen said, "It's time for you to write those stories, truly." For the last twenty years, I've written 11 books and hundreds of poems as an indie writer. The shoe fits.

Along the way, I've come to understand that every decade has its own challenge. Now 81, I realize this decade may well try to break me, but I refuse to bend. We learned this week my dear husband of 50 years has Parkinson's. I fear his loss more than anything else. My job now is to be strong, positive, and take care of him, as he has taken care of what matters most to me -- that inner life that sees and seeks beauty in all things. Even cooking.

So this post is my roundabout way of answering this month's question for the Insecure Writers' Study Group. Some common fears writers share are rejection, failure, success, and lack of talent or ability. What are your greatest fears as a writer? How do you manage them? 

My response and hope is that you follow YOUR dreams, honor your own creative spirit, and persevere! For each day is precious, as are you and your gifts.

Spring at Manito Park

Here's a little about the Insecure Writer's Support Group! The first Wednesday of each month is officially IWSG Day. Some 90 writers talk about their progress on their blogs, offer tips, or answer the question of the month. Everyone tries to visit about 10-20 other writers to show our support. And, each month, several writers volunteer to be co-hosts. This month, the generous co-hosts are:  Feather Stone, Janet Alcorn, Rebecca Douglass, Jemima Pett, and Pat Garcia!

Why not consider participating? For spring is truly on its way. May you celebrate each day and find many words for your stories. 

IWSG: Fantasy or real life?

Today's challenge question is: What fantasy character would you like to fight, go on a quest with, or have a beer/glass of wine with?

If I were twelve, this question would be easy. I'd love to sail on a pirate ship in the 19th Century, smell the sweet, free scent of the sea, and search for treasure. The reality? Cramped quarters, no showers, hit or miss food, and no computer for writing.

At eighty-one, I'm not interested in fantasy. Okay, maybe book fantasy. But real life? I would love to travel to Peru or Paris just once more with my beloved fellow traveller who's been by my side for nearly fifty years. Is that possible? I'm not sure we could survive the plane trip! Let alone climbing up five flights to our temporary apartment! We content ourselves with postcards, photos from long ago, and travel the world vicariously at local international restaurants, celebrating each day.

And about the writing: Steady progress. IF I'm able to keep writing 4K a month, Honeymoon in Egypt will be finished by the end of the year. This is the second book in the art crime series, following The Seventh Tapestry

Just one writing tip: When I'm drafting, I normally jump around whenever a scene occurs to me. Maybe other writers do this. Sometimes, I end up writing duplicate scenes. So, I now like to use a simple list at the top of each chapter. This helps me remember the who, what, when, and why as the story develops. What's your favorite writing tip? 

So marketing experts, my question is: Should I follow experts who suggest my price should stay at $4.99, OR drop the first book in a series to 99c -- or permafree???? What do you think?

Here's a little about the Insecure Writer's Support Group! The first Wednesday of each month is officially IWSG Day. Some 90 writers talk about their progress on their blogs, offer tips, or answer the question of the month. Everyone tries to visit about 10-20 other writers to show our support. And, each month, several writers volunteer to be co-hosts. This month, the generous co-hosts are: Jennifer Lane, L Diane Wolfe, Jenni Enzor, and Natalie Aguirre!

Why not consider participating? For spring is truly on its way. May you celebrate each day and find many words for your stories. 

Spring at Japanese Garden, Manito

Letting go . . .

 Recently, I read an article. Can't find it now, but the underlying message stayed with me: Consider what you have. What do you treasure? What do you use most? And, why are you keeping the rest? 

I looked around in the clutter of my office and three bookcases, I began to sort them out. Surprisingly, I just didn't need, read or plan to read many books. So, a few bags later, and they're off to a new home (friends, library, and donations). Part of following this process led me to think about when these 'things' were important. Good memories of teaching, but I'm not teaching any more. Good stories, but I'm not going to read some of these books again.

One half shelf of books is about those wonderful codices from the Maya and Aztecs, precious and sacred books written with hieroglyphs and intricate pictures. The Spanish burned these books, yet a very few remain. I couldn't let these books go . . . even as I learned today that new codices are being discovered -- which means new books will be written!

Pages from a Mayan Codice (Source)

New Aztec codices have been discovered (Source)

The office feels less cluttered. I feel lighter. Now I'm beginning to look at the rest of the house. What do I truly need? What do I treasure and why? Do I really need two kitchen scissors? Okay, in that case, yes. But this is kind of a fun process. 

What would you keep? What would you consider letting go?

IWSG: If I could be anyone . . .

As we march into Spring, the Insecure Writer's Support Group challenges writers to answer this question on the first Wednesday of March:

March 5 question - If for one day you could be anyone or *thing* in the world, what would it be? Describe, tell why, and any themes, goals, or values they/it inspire in you.

When I was a kid, I read as many books as I could check out of the library, falling into historical fiction as if it were an escape from what surrounded me. My dreams were to sail to the Southern Seas, to travel the world, to climb mountains. I never actually thought this would happen, holding the current book in my hand, lost in places so far away I couldn't hear anyone at all. 'Nose in a book,' my mother would say, losing her patience and whacking me. I left at seventeen and never looked back. I also don't drink.

I never thought I'd fall in love, get married, have children, or live in a lovely cottage on the hill with a white picket fence in front. That cottage never materialized, but I still remember that day I met Allen, my husband of now over 50 years. He said, "I really like you, but I like to travel." My reply? "So do I." Did I say that he loved bookstores and libraries as much as I do?

I've traveled more than I ever imagined, explored cultures that yet resonate, and I became a college teacher of writing, helping others find ways to express their dreams and set their own goals. Once retired, we settled near family, with two grandkids who brighten every week.

And I began to pursue my longheld dream of becoming a writer, starting with historical fiction (somehow I got stuck in the 1840s), then dabbling in other genres -- police procedurals and art crime mysteries. All inspired by that lifelong love of travel.

So, if I could be anybody, I think I am simply happy being myself.

And, starting tomorrow, March 6, my latest book goes on special. Unleashed Pursuit, a story about a woman police officer on the run who winds up in a small town in Oregon. Take a look, if you like. I still love to encouraging reading, so all of my books are available on Kindle Unlimited.

Now, the snow has melted, temperatures are slowly warming. Maybe spring will truly be here with first flowers in a few more weeks -- a good spring for all of us.

Consider visiting the awesome co-hosts for the March 5 posting of the IWSG are Ronel Janse Van Vuuren, Pat Garcia, and Liza @ Middle Passages! Say hello, leave a comment, and celebrate each day! 

Oh, and there's still time to read a book!

Where do ideas for new stories . . .

 So, where do ideas for new stories come from? 

My historical fiction series began with a college class called The Economic History of Great Britain. Sounds pretty uninspiring, right? My first day, the room was quite crowded with about 70 students. I found a seat toward the back and by the door (my habit: Always sit as close as possible to the exit). 

The teacher marched in, looked at all the students, zoomed in on me, and said: "Why are you here, taking up the spot of a male who will need this class to become a wage earner and head of a family?" Yes, I was the only female in the class, working on a double major, English and History. And, yes, I successfully completed the class, earning an "A". 

That class focused on the Industrial Revolution and the ways the lives of simple farmers were transformed. Landowners evicted these hard-working families, replacing them with sheep as the wool suddenly had become a profitable product, very much needed for the new factories. 

Standing Stones, set in 1840s Scotland, introduced the fate of one such family. I'm very pleased to report that Standing Stones now has over 1,000 reviews and led me to write 3 more stories based on the McDonnell family and their adventures in Scotland, Australia, and Canada.

So, stories can be inspired by external events, books read, or even a visit to a museum . . . .

A few years back, we spent a month in France, independently traveling. One special day, we visited the Musée de Cluny in Paris to see those very famous six lion and unicorn tapestries, woven sometime around 1500. Magnificently detailed, each tapestry illustrated one of the five senses, with the sixth tapestry a mystery, named To My Only Desire (roughly translated). 

The writerly part of me asked, "What if?" What if there were a seventh tapestry, hidden for hundreds of years? And so began my story, The Seventh Tapestry, my first art crime mystery.

Stop back by later to find out how twice, now, a vivid dream has awakened me -- and inspired a story!

Hope you enjoyed Valentine's Day -- or, as my daughter would ask, Did you celebrate Cheap Chocolate Day on February 15th?

IWSG: Running like a rabbit . . .

I'm late. I'm late! Just like that rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, down the rabbit hole I go, working my way through a to-do list that's way too long! Including a special writers' Zoom meeting on Wednesday that I missed entirely. Sigh.

For February 5, the Insecure Writer's Support Group challenges writers to answer this question:

Is there a story or book you've written you want to/wish you could go back and change?

The short answer is no. I did have a story that I set aside to finish Unleashed Pursuit. That side trip into the world of a runaway female cop, chased by bad guys and good guys, popped out into the world early January, 2025. Telling this story was a lot of fun, and feedback from readers has been positive. Check it out . . . and as indie writers say, consider leaving a review?  Go HERE.

So, happily, I'm now back at work -- and writing! -- on Sandra and Neil's Honeymoon in Egypt, a follow-up art crime mystery to The Seventh Tapestry. Would you be surprised to learn that Sandra and Neil discover artifacts have been stolen from that brand new Grand Egyptian Museum near Giza? 

Typically, it takes me about 2-3 years to write a story. I'm trying to apply 1) outlining, 2) deadlines, and 3) a daily word count to finish Honeymoon (currently at 34K) by December 2025. Of course, it does help that we visited Egypt a few years back. I still remember touching the pyramids at Giza and walking underneath one of those pyramids.

May you have a good month, whether writing and/or reading! 

Despite continued snow and winter that's longer than it should be, we will persevere! Right?

Consider visiting the awesome co-hosts for the February 5 posting of the IWSG: Joylene Nowell Butler, Louise Barbour, and Tyrean Martinson.  Say hello, leave a comment, and celebrate each day!

2025: Time to set those goals!

I'm filled with enthusiasm and a sense of thankfulness over the great receiption of Unleashed Pursuit, just released last week, already with 3 reviews! But, now it's time to set goals for 2025 -- a mix of writing and personal commitments. 

Here's my preliminary list, including deadlines (aargh!):

• Complete the first rough draft of Honeymoon in Egypt, an art crimes mystery, currently at 30K. Book 2 following The Seventh Tapestry, (now up to 149 reviews!) by June 2025.
• Continue blogging 2x/month.
• Send newsletter 1x/month.
• Read and review other authors 2x/month.
• Participate in writing groups (Zoom 4x/month, Spokane Authors 1x/month). Maybe resume working with the Internet Writing Workshop?

Am I being too ambitious? I truly don't know.

    Source: lolalambchops  

• OTHER:
• Go swimming and/or some other physical activity 3x/week.
• Continue making comfort quilts for those who need them, probably 1x/month.
• Come up with some way to make cooking easier (I really don't have a clue).
• Celebrate family commitments with activities 2x/week.
• Face down the MARKETING challenge (again, never sure what works or what I 'should' do to encourage new readers). 
• Do I offer a freebie for Valentine's Day? Hmmm. What do YOU think?

Ah, the truth is that I don't feel ready for 2025. Family illnesses are distracting, and I feel like each day brings a new and unexpected challenge. My favorite saying these days is that real life is much like fiction -- full of plot twists! I hope to support those who need me in the coming year -- and keep writing.

May 2025 be a good year for us all -- and, hopefully, a little less complicated!

 

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