IWSG July 2025

 

Welcome, readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We're glad you're here! It's the First Wednesday of the month, when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring members and guests of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share views and literary news as we record our journeys. Check out our latest newsletter here.

Our awesome co-hosts this month are:   Rebecca Douglass, Natalie Aguirre, Cathrina Constantine, and Louise Barbour!

The optional question for this month is: Is there a genre that you’d really like to try  writing in and haven’t yet? Do you plan to?

Yes. And yes, it's already in progress.

Every writer generally writes whatever poem or story stirs the inspiration enough to bring a story to glorious life. I didn't start writing to write exclusively for children, but for a time, it seemed I had. It didn't occur to me that I had written an adventure for children or a mystery for young adults until I had. Good thing I have so many good folks around to tell me what I'm doing; "Hey, did you ever finish that mystery you were writing? And "How's that memoir coming along?"  

Should I be worried that no one has asked about the ghost yet?

How's your journey? 

IWSG June 2025

 

Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We're glad you're here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring members and guests of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share views and literary news as we record our journeys. Check out our monthly newsletter here.

The awesome co-hosts for this month’s posting of the IWSG are:  PJ Colando, Pat Garcia, Kim Lajevardi, Melisa Maygrove, and Jean Davis! 

 Today’s entirely optional question: What were some books that impacted you as a child or young adult?

Growing up in a neighborhood called Enchanted Hills, on a street called Land’s End, it’s no surprise my reading tastes would lean toward all things imagined or dreamed of – even if they kept me up at night ;-)

Goodnight, Moon was the perfect book to fall asleep to. I’d heard it so often I could recite the story to myself when no one felt like reading to me. After reading Corduroy, I began collecting buttons because you never know when you might really need one. Years later, I lay awake wondering if the kids would discover what happened to their father in The Railway Children. I marveled at how alike Posy (Ballet Shoes) and I were, and how excited I was to finally graduate to toe shoes. Would I be as good as Posy?

Ours was a house full of cats and readers. We even had a library. A newspaper was delivered every morning and every evening. Everybody read something. Even the birdcage was lined with funnies from the Sunday paper. I suspect the cats always knew exactly what we were feeding them and thanked us with theatrical disdain, while the scotty dog (like the Monopoly game) at least feigned indifference so as not to cause a scene.

A story I loved as a child was told to me in reference to all the cats we had. I wasn’t sure, at the time, that any real book existed.  As far as I know, I’ve never known anyone who owned a copy of the book "Millions of Cats" (1928); however, it remains the oldest American picture book still in print to date.

But the book that remains the one, the first one, the unforgettable first story that flowed across my heart like warm syrup on a pancake, still remains in full detail on a repeating reel as if I’d walked those fields with Robin. It was after I read The Velvet Room that I ever dared to consider writing something myself. Zilpha Keatley Snyder inspired me.

Happy writing!

 

“If we don’t change direction soon, we’ll end up where we’re going.” ~ Professor Irwin Corey 

 

IWSG May 2025 Becoming an Elephant

 

Welcome, readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We're glad you're here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring members and guests of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share views and literary news as we record our journeys. Check out our monthly newsletter here.

The awesome co-hosts for the May 7 posting of the IWSG are Feather Stone, Janet Alcorn, Rebecca Douglass, Jemima Pett, and Pat Garcia!

 Today’s entirely optional question: Some common fears writers share are rejection, failure, success, and lack of talent or ability. What are your greatest fears as a writer, and how do you manage them?

By listing all the common (been there, done that) fears, this question really gets to the heart of what’s left of the matter when comes to the final little shadow of fear that looms in the corner of my peripheral conscientiousness like the old White Elephant that everyone considered an attainable treasure until it appeared in “the room” unannounced. I call it relevance, and it’s what I’m afraid of losing. It’s also the elephant that no one wants to talk about.  How do I even know I ever had it? Here are a few thoughts…

 “Relevance to me is about being creative and doing things you believe in, whether that’s music or acting or painting a picture, or whatever it is.

~ Larry Mullen Jr.

Yeah, I agree with that idea. Until or unless losing relevance is a deal-breaker. Do I then stop writing? Ride dejectedly off into the sunset, dropping useless words behind me in the sun-scorched sand?

“The concept that an artist would be revered by popular culture is an immediate dismissal of his relevance as an artist.”  ~ Thomas Kinkade

If that sounds harsh, there’s this:

 “The most striking fault in work by young or beginning novelists, submitted for criticism -- is irrelevance – due either to infatuation or indecision. To direct such an author’s attention to the imperative of relevance is certainly the most useful – and possibly the only – help that can be given.” ~ Elizabeth Bowen

Oof!   Let’s read on,

“Relevance is kind of a weird thing. If one does topical material, it makes sense to want to be relevant. But if someone talks about donut sprinkles, it’s not quite as important.  Unless the US Supreme Court makes a decision outlawing donut sprinkles.” ~ Brian Regan

Perhaps I’d best quit while I’m smiling ;-)

Wishing everyone a wonderfully productive month of May!

 

IWSG April 2025

 

Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We're glad you're here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring members and guests of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share our views and literary news as we record our journeys. Check out our latest newsletter here.

Our awesome co-hosts this month are:  Jennifer Lane, L Diane Wolfe, Jenni Enzor, and Natalie Aguirre!

The optional question(s) for this month is: What fantasy character would you like to fight, go on a quest with, or have a beer/glass of wine with?

 What a fun question!

Billy Summers (a character in a novel by Stephen King) is a professional hitman who only kills bad guys and is on his last “hit” before his long-awaited retirement. But something feels off about this last assignment, and he tells his boss as much. While Billy is a really nice guy (for a hitman), Nick, his boss, is not. Throughout the story, I was convinced that somebody should follow him around to ensure nothing terrible happened to him.

Myron Bolitar (Protag in a series by Harlan Coben) is a sports agent with a law degree and clients who often require him to acquire detective skills. Yet, he manages to solve mysteries and save his clients and himself with the help of his anti-hero best friend and business partner, Win, who most people tend to dislike on sight for his money and good looks. For Myron, any reason is a reason to celebrate anything with his favorite childhood drink. I could get used to YooHoos :-) 

Poison For Breakfast (Lemony Snicket) This poor guy has a series of uncertain days of soul-searching after receiving a cryptic note under his door one morning. But who eats toast and cheese for breakfast?

 That's all from me today. Happy IWSG Day, and have a wonderful April!

IWSG March 2025

 

Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We're glad you're here! It's the first Wednesday of the month, and we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring members and guests of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share views and literary news as we record our journeys. Check out our monthly newsletter here.

The awesome co-hosts for this month’s posting of the IWSG are:   Joylene Nowell Butler, Louise Barbour, and Tyrean Martinson!

 Today’s entirely optional question: If for one day you could be any one or thing in the world, what would it be? Describe, tell why, and talk about any themes or values are inspired by this.

I’d be the keeper of the hand-painted chalet where a silly wooden bird carefully marked our every moment, popping out of the door to remind us on the hour of every hour that passes every day that the treasure of each second should count and not be tossed away. Except for that fateful day, the family cat had her way and made off with one of the gently swaying pendulum weights, stilling the steady tick-toc and forever silencing the ever-cheerful bird.  However, in none of the handful of stories I’ve created about this event over the years, does the cat ever abscond with the weight like it did. No sir-ee. In one story the cat falls into the aquarium, in another story the dog tries to get involved, alerting Grandma to the devious endeavor going on, whereby cat and dog both are unceremoniously escorted out the back door. That ending still makes me smile;-) While no one ever admitted it, I think we all missed that silly wooden bird.

Then again, perhaps I’d be the sturdy tree by the river that heard all about our secrets, shared our tears, and triumphs, the one that allowed us to climb, and preserved our carvings as sacred etchings of our youth.  I’d be the tree that shaded us from the harsher hues of life even when our hearts rained, the constant friend that whispered, “It’ll be alright,” through skinned-up knees and grass stains. And it was. It just always was alright.

Okay. Your turn! Can’t wait to see what everyone has to say in response – or not, to the optional question.

Happy Writing!

IWSG February 5th 2025

 

Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We're glad you're here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring members and guests of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share views and literary news as we record our journeys. Check out the December newsletter here.

The awesome co-hosts for this month’s posting of the IWSG are:   Joylene Nowell Butler, Louise Barbour, and Tyrean Martinson!

 Today’s entirely optional question: Is there a story or a book you’ve written that you wish you could go back and change?

Hmm…I wish I had more illustrations of all the adventures Beanie had in his Backyard. However, as the inspiration for Beanie turns 18 years old today, I have to say I wouldn’t – couldn’t change a thing ;-)

 I didn’t meet my favorite illustrator until I wrote about a well-meaning kleptomaniac canine named Wilson, who charms an Ostrich in a hardware store parking lot into joining him as he playfully terrorizes the entire small town of Sawdust.

Of course, by the time I finished describing how easily love blossomed between a couple of teenage kids as they tried to keep the discovery of an old wooden chest full of American coins and keys unearthed by the tides on a beach in Mexico a secret, I knew I had the most outstanding title ever! Maybe even a choice between TWO of the most outstanding titles ever! And I didn’t use either one. Yeah, I’m kind of kicking the dirt over it – but the story is still fantastic (naturally, I think so, right?), and I’d wanted the title to be as well.

I anticipate at least a few changes as I fine-tooth several short stories I’d like to use in an upcoming collection of Stories for Children. I think I’ll let someone else choose a title ;-)

Must get back to planning the event of the year (?) I’m not so sure I didn’t skip my 18^th birthday.

Have a wonderful February, everyone!

Happy Writing!

 

 

IWSG January 2025 She Led the Way

 

Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

Happy New Year!

We're glad you're here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring members and guests of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share views and literary news as we record our journeys. Check out the monthly newsletter here.

The awesome co-hosts for this month’s posting of the IWSG are:     Rebecca Douglass, Beth Camp, Liza @ Middle Passages, and Natalie @ Literary Rambles!

 Today’s entirely optional question: Describe someone you admired when you were a child. Did your opinion of that person change when you grew up?

When I was growing up, most kids had grandmothers; most of whom were widows who lived their remaining years with the families of the children they had raised. Most grandmothers cooked and cleaned, took care of laundry, and maybe tended a small garden out back while collecting a monthly stipend from the government for their husband’s military services.

My grandma was different in that her own two daughters had long been raised and gone as she worked full-time at a local grocery store where she stocked shelves and ran a cash register while raising two grandkids. By the time she was Lead Cashier, she had to soak her aching feet every evening. She didn’t have to have her hair done at the Beauty Parlor every Monday, but it was a treat she awarded herself after long work weeks and very busy Sundays when she took care of things a “good man would do if there was any to be had.”  Instead, she built the fence that encompassed our yard herself, serviced the evaporative cooler every year, painted the house, and changed the oil in her pride and joy; a light-blue Chevy Corvair.

Between arranging canned goods “just so” on store shelves all week and maybe rotating tires on the weekend, I imagined the little pink pillow with the silk pillowcase she slept on felt pretty good.

Grandma never complained and said it wouldn’t do any good. “Arm yourself with solutions to problems you want addressed by someone else.” she’d say.

No. Grandma didn’t cook or clean. But she ruled the roost and kept the bills paid while her own Mother (Mamo) took care of the household chores and kept us kids fed and on time for school each day. Mamo had coffee, toast, and the morning paper ready for grandma to read each day before she went to work. Grandma read the evening paper every day as well, while she soaked her feet at night. She seemed to know something about everything, and was interested in any subject I ever brought up. If she didn’t have an answer, we’d find out together. She taught herself to read sheet music (whereas Mamo played by ear) and sometimes filled in on Sunday evening piano concerts. I was in junior high before I discovered Grandma was a closet poet, too.

In retrospect, all we had to do was follow along as she led the way.

Any changes that ever occurred in our relationship over the years could only ever have been in the intensity of the love, respect, admiration, and gratitude that remains ever-vibrant in my heart today, long after her passing.

In closing, I’m sharing a quote my grandma, and I thought was pretty spot-on ;-)

 

Patience is the ability to count down before you blast off