Find out going on with the 2012 National Novel Writing Month “winner,” Atonement, Tennessee
Monday, February 12, 2024 Hello, everyone. First, something good. Today is the first anniversary of the day Velma and Daphne arrived. I wanted to use names of a fictional detective duo. During the night before they came, my mind had briefly flitted across the names on which I eventually settled. However, if Chris The Story Reading … More Things change — and usually not for the better. Announcement
Saturday, February 10, 2024 Welcome back to the strange town, Atonement, Tennessee. Today’s soundtrack is Strange Magic, by ELO. The song was suggested by Dan Antion, who also offered up one of his favorite photos. Midweek, Dan’s photo inspired me to do a post offering a writing exercise/challenge. You’re still welcome to come out and play … More Weekend Serial — Atonement: Bad Bishop, Episode- 7: Strange Magic
Saturday, February 3, 2024 Welcome everyone. Today’s soundtrack tune was offered by Liz Gauffreau. It’s our second song by “Cream” — Strange Brew. Be sure to click over and check out Liz’s blog. Previously With the sun to one side, I shielded my eyes, squinting into the distance. As the black mist reached the ground … More Weekend Serial — Atonement Bad Bishop, Episode 6: Strange Brew, featuring Liz Gauffreau
Saturday, January 27, 2024 Welcome everyone. Horsefeathers! How can it be that January has gone by so fast? Yesterday (as I write this on Friday) I emailed several people for ideas for another soundtrack song. Thanks to everyone for the great song ideas. I’ll be choosing one of those for next weekend’s episode. However, right … More Weekend Serial — Atonement Bad Bishop, Episode 5: Riders on the Storm
Saturday, January 13, 2024 Welcome back to the strange town, Atonement, Tennessee. Today’s soundtrack is Tales of Brave Ulysses, by Cream. It made me think of Donny Metatron and his predicament with the sirens. However, the otherworldly pigs took over it — at least for this episode. The song was suggested by photographer and cat-dad (and … More Weekend Serial — Atonement: Bad Bishop, Episode-4, Tortured Ears, Featuring Tim Price
Saturday, January 6, 2024 First, a big thank you to Dan Antion for making a post of the writing exercise I did on Wednesday — and giving my books a double shout-out, with Speak Falpper and Hullabal Lulu, a Diesel-Punk Adventure. Don’t miss Dan’s post. Since Daphne was being such a character (if not a … More Weekend Serial, Characters
Saturday, December 30, 2023 This is my last post of 2023. Before I do anything else, let me wish each of you a sparkling New Year. Honeybell, Moccus, and Deme are having a party to celebrate. Today’s soundtrack is White Rabbit by Grace Wing Slick and Jefferson Airplane. It fit Pepper Riley’s disoriented state, now … More Weekend Serial — Atonement: Bad Bishop, Episode-3, Logic and Proportion, Featuring Roberta Cheadle
Saturday, December 23, 2023 It’s wonderful to see you in Atonement, TN and reading this serial. Whether you love the holidays and are happy that it’s only a couple of days before Christmas — or if you’re glad it’s finally almost over, I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday season, with joy to in your world. … More Weekend Serial — Atonement: Bad Bishop, Episode-2, Both Sides Now, Featuring Geoff Le Pard
Wednesday, December 20, 2023 Welcome, all and happy hump day. It’s been a while since I did a “writing” post. I hope you’re in the mood for a ramble. Did you ever have to find your way to a rural or remote place? I mean the kind of destination where you have about 30 turns … More Wednesday Writing — the Unlikely Path to a Character: Enoch Metatron
Saturday, December x, 2023 Welcome back to the Atonement, Bad Bishop serial. I’m glad you’re here. Like they say, great minds think alike. This time, the random reader things, which drive this episode were from the “soundtrack” offerings. Two of you suggested the same song — I’ve Seen All Good People, by the group Yes … More Weekend Serial — Atonement: Bad Bishop, Episode-1, All Good People, Featuring Dan Antion & Kerfe
Saturday, December 9, 2023 Welcome back to Atonement, TN. It’s good to see you. This time, the random reader things, which drive this episode were from the “soundtrack” suggestions. Resa McConaghy suggested Hotel California. It seems like if a song fits my mood, the ability to write arrives soon after the tune gets embedded in … More Weekend Serial — Atonement: Bad Bishop, Prologue 2, Featuring Resa McConaghy
Thursday, December 7, 2023 Yes, there’s a door on the amphicar above, but the idea is so fun it’s hard to think about the door. Wouldn’t you just jump right into the seat, forgetting the door? Hop aboard and take a little tour of some boat houses with me. Take me back to my boat, … More #ThursdayDoors: Boathouses
Saturday, December 2, 2023 Book-2 Begins Now Welcome everyone, and welcome December. Wow…how did it get here so fast. Wasn’t it just March? Just an eye-blink ago wasn’t it September, when I finished Book-1 of the Atonement serial. Believe it or not, I’ve been thinking about the serial all this time. I keep changing my … More Atonement: Bad Bishop, Prologue-1 Adelle’s Diary
Friday, December 1, 2023 First let me apologize for a week’s worth of unanswered comments. Horsefeathers! Comments are the whole reason why I blog in the first place. The latest “improvements” to WordPress apparently prevent me being notified of your comments — so I didn’t think anybody was commenting. I was very discouraged… And then, … More #ThursdayDoors on a Friday: Windmills
Saturday, November 18, 2023 Hello, everyone. Before I get to the point, we do have a response to the creativity challenge. It’s from fellow author Geoff Le Pard. Don’t miss his is hysterically Ruthless response. Be sure to check it out. Anyway, you aren’t mistaken — I was late publishing this post. I’ve been banging my head … More Atonement, TN Soundtrack
Saturday, November 11, 2023 Welcome to my sanctuary, everyone. In honor of Veterans Day in the USA, let me begin with a simple… Thank you for your service. I’ve barely made a start on Part-2 of Atonement in Zugzwang, but I am working on it. I admit that I have a terrible time keeping myself … More Atonement Serial, before part 2 begins
Wednesday, November 8, 2023 Welcome, all and happy hump day. As I persisted in futile attempts to get my head back into the universe of Atonement, TN, I decided to do another “Artifacts” post. Update: this actually did help. Last evening I sketched out the opening scenes for part-2 of the new serial. I hope to … More Wednesday Writing — Atonement TN: Artifact Notes, the Barber Pole
Saturday, October 28, 2023 Welcome to my sanctuary, everyone. You’d think I would be refreshed after such a long blog break. Instead, I wrote a novella (A Peril in the Bayou). Writing a short novel during that long break was actually arduous, and it didn’t lead to a replenishment of energy. However, to keep the … More Atonement Serial Research
Wednesday, September 13, 2023 Hello, everyone. I’m easing away from my so-called break, although I’m not fully back in the blog-verse yet. Anyhow I didn’t want you to go away, so I’m rerunning this short story from 2018. I’m also participating in Thursday Doors, hosted by Dan Antion. by showing you VW Beetle doors. When … More Wednesday Writing & #ThursdayDoors — Blossoms & Bears, a short story of Atonement, TN
Saturday, September 9, 2023 Welcome, everyone. I hope your September is going well. I’m still on a blog “break.” That word is kind of hard to say considering that I’ve been staying up past 1AM several nights, working on books and related tasks. However, to tide you over until I come back to do the … More Atonement in Zugzwang, Book 1 — Now available
Saturday, September 2, 2023 Hello, everyone. Thanks for visiting my sanctuary. My break from blogging isn’t precisely over yet. As Olga Núñez Miret once told me, sometimes doing something different is as good as a break. That’s what I’ve been doing. But first a boo-hiss to WordPress for continuing to crop large swaths off my … More Atonement in Zugzwang Part 2: Call for Things
Monday, August 21, 2023 Those of us who have been in the blog-verse for several years (or more) talk about the dreaded “summertime slump.” It happens every year. This year is no exception. I realize that summer is almost over… However, many of us experienced a big decrease in followers, views, and comments throughout the … More Before “part 2” of Atonement in Zugzwang, a break
Saturday, August 19, 2023 Welcome back to Atonement, TN. It’s good to see you. Today I’m welcoming fellow author/blogger Marian Allen back to the blog-verse. Marian hasn’t been able to post much this year because she fell and broke both wrists. Back in DC, I had a severe break to my right wrist (that of … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 23, Featuring Marian Allen
Saturday, August 12, 2023 Welcome back, everyone. I’m happy that you’re following this urban fantasy serial. To drive this episode, I used John W. Howell‘s “finger point prompt.” Here’s how John uses this prompt, “The idea is to open a book randomly and, without looking, point to the page. The word or words closest to the … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 22, Featuring Teri Polen
Wednesday, August 10, 2023 Welcome, all. Thanks for opening this door to “Atonement, TN” in the middle of the week. If you opened the door to Annie’s Antiques and Consignment Shop, you’d hear the old-fashioned tinkle of a little bell attached to the door. It wouldn’t be unusual for you to smell home-baked cookies. Often … More Wednesday Writing — Atonement TN: Artifact Notes, the Mirror of Truth
Saturday, August 5, 2023 Welcome to my sanctuary, everyone. Thanks for following this wild, urban fantasy serial. When I asked Pat at e-Quips blog for the random reader things for this episode I asked her to think about things that might be at or near a lake. Pat gave us boat house, hammock, and oar(s). … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 21
Wednesday, July 26, 2023 When you open a door anywhere in Atonement, TN, you’re bound to find friends. I’ve done a lot of long-running blog serial stories (at least eight, but I always overlook a couple when I try to think of them all). At some point during any of them, I do a post … More Wednesday Writing & #ThursdayDoors to Atonement in Zugzwang — The Good Guys.
Saturday, July 22, 2023 Hello, everyone. This is a rather long episode, although it’s still under 2,500 words. I didn’t want to split it, because we’re going to be hanging on the cliff about Donny Metatron for long enough as it is. So, there’s not much preamble today. Fellow blogger, Fraggle. posted a photo that inspired me, … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 19, Featuring Fraggle
Wednesday, July 19, 2023 Hello everyone. It’s good to see you. My post is doing double duty today, for Wednesday Writing and Thursday Doors. I wrote the story below several years ago as a teaser for book-2 of my Atonement, Tennessee series, Atonement in Bloom. In this story I bring up the grandfather of mysterious … More Adelle’s Teapot, a short story of Atonement, TN — Wednesday Writing & #ThursdayDoors
Saturday, July 15, 2023 Welcome back to my sanctuary in the town infested with “supernaturals,” that I call Atonement, TN. Before we get to the story, I need to apologize because I haven’t been around the blog-verse as much as I would like. As you know I’ve had Internet problems ever since I moved into … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 18, Featuring Dan Antion
Saturday, July 8, 2023 Thanks for coming back to Atonement, TN. As you know, I first wrote the Atonement “universe” back in 2012, and there are two novels and one collection of snort stories. This serial uses several of the minor characters from the books, and a new heroine. I’ve avoided using the main characters … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 17, Featuring Anita & Jaye Marie
Saturday, July 1, 2023 Welcome back to the strange little town of Atonement, TN. I’m very happy to see you. If you’re in the USA, you might be doing some preliminary celebrating for Independence Day, so I appreciate it even more that you’re spending part of your weekend here. This is a week when my … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 16, Featuring Kamal Roohani
Saturday, June 24, 2023 Thanks for coming back to Atonement, TN. My featured guest today has been a blog-friend all the way back to the creation of my Atonement series. She even did the Spanish translation of Atonement, Tennessee. (The Spanish version is called Expiación y Magia.) Of course, I’m talking about Olga Núñez Miret. … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 15, Featuring Olga Núñez Miret
Saturday, June 17, 2023 Welcome back to Atonement, TN. Last week I hosted a Roaring Twenties blog party, featuring S. R. Mallery. With all those links to so many other people, it was a big undertaking for me. As a result, I had little time for this serial, or for arranging to feature someone. Roberta Eaton … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 14 — & Recipe from Robbie Cheadle
Saturday, June 2, 2023 Welcome back to our weekend sanctuary in the weirdly magical town of Atonement, Tennessee. The residents of this town are just like everyone else— Well, that’s way off. Some of them are like everyone else, but others… Anyhow, now and then, they all enjoy watching a game or going to the … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 13 part 2, Featuring John W. Howell
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 Welcome to my sanctuary in the fictional town called Atonement. I have two novels and a small collection of short stories set in this town. Doors afficionados might not have visited this place yet, but I hope you will for this “short story.” It’s actually an episode of my blog serial. … More Atonement in Zugzwang, Episode 13. #ThursdayDoors Writing Challenge — Old Green Eyes
Saturday, May 27, 2023 Welcome back to Atonement, TN. Today we are joined by Rebecca Budd, who has been a wonderful source of encouragement. On Wednesday I shared a link to a podcast we did together. I was honored to be interviewed. She has quite a number of blogs including Tea, Toast & Trivia, and … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 12 — Featuring Rebecca Budd
Saturday, May 20, 2023 Hello, all. Thanks for coming back for part 2 of Episode 11 of Atonement in Zugzwang. As you’ll recall, Jennie Fitzkee from A Teacher’s Reflections provided this episode’s three things. In part-1 the only thing I used was Nancy Drew book. Today I’m using emerald, and grandfather clock. Jennie recently had an in-person … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 11 part-2 — Featuring Jennie Fitzkee & Dan the Tool Man
Saturday, May 13, 2023 Welcome back to my sanctuary in the very strange little town called Atonement. It’s a relief to be here with all of you. I admit that my “stuff” has made coping with an unpleasant neighbor situation even more difficult. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to write (or anything else for that … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 11 part-1 — Featuring Jennie Fitzkee
Saturday, May 6, 2023 Welcome back, everyone. Three is certainly my number today. As you know, this is one of my “three things” style pantser serials. So of course, there are three random reader things driving the story. Beyond the three random reader things, I’ve tied this post to three other types of things. First … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 10, & Doors Writing Challenge & the Kitten is Named!
Saturday, April 29, 2023 Welcome back, everyone. After doing various types of refresher posts during the past couple of weeks (here and at my midweek posts), I’m going to move straight into the new episode. Today the random reader things, which drive this episode are from fellow blogger and author, D.L. (Denise) Finn. She already … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 9, Featuring D.L. Finn
Saturday, April 22, 2023 Hello, everyone. Welcome back to my very strange fictional town, Atonement, TN. Pepper Riley, and the guardians of this small town that is full of (secretly) supernatural beings are about to be placed in “zugzwang.” To over-simplify, zugzwang (German for “compulsion to move”) is a situation found in chess and other … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: a Refresher
Saturday, April 15, 2023 Thanks for coming back to my sanctuary, everyone. I put the chessboard (above) on a tropical shore. It reminded me of the blog, Pacific Paratrooper. Actually, the special guest this week is GP Cox, who runs that blog. He provided this week’s random reader things: Musket, pawn, and barber pole. One … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 8, Featuring G. P. Cox
Saturday, April 8, 2023 Hello, everyone. The month of April has begun with odd weather again for many of us. Not to mention the odd happenings under my kitchen sink. I’ve had the plumber out for my badly leaking sink three times in as many weeks. “Nothing is wrong” with the sink. I guess that … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 7, Featuring Teri Polen
Saturday, April 1, 2023 Hello, everyone. Welcome back to my new, spontaneously written, reader-inspired serial, Atonement in Zugzwang. If you missed the beginning of this serial, or if you need to refresh your memory about where it began, click here for Episode 1. Each week I feature the person who provided random reader things that … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 6, Featuring Fraggle
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 What a relief to be in my sanctuary. Sit down and relax relax with me. One day about five years ago, I remarked on my dislike of acronyms. Actually, I hate the blasted things. It inspired our marvelous Story Reading Ape to be a bit of a prankster. He spontaneously created … More Wednesday Rerun — The Glowing Pigs Meet Artie the Genius Chimp
Saturday, March 25, 2023 Hello, everyone. Welcome back to our weekend sanctuary. It’s in the weirdly magical town of Atonement, Tennessee. Today’s random reader things are from a blogger-author I’ve been privileged to collaborate with several times. That goes all the way back to Pip’s adventures, set in the 1920s, which were my first blog … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 5, Featuring John W. Howell
Wednesday, March 22, 2023 Welcome to my sanctuary. I hope everyone is safe, warm, and dry. Sit back, have a cup of coffee, a snack, or whatever pleases you. There aren’t any calories here! Now, I invite you to enter my “Atonement universe” for this story I wrote back in 2018. I never furthered one … More Wednesday Writing — an Atonement TN Short Story
Saturday, March 18, 2023 Welcome back to Atonement, TN, everyone. If you saw my post yesterday, then you know that this new installment of Atonement in Zugzwang was driven by a recipe (from which I chose 3 things) created just for this post by the amazing Robbie Cheadle. Here’s a link to the post where you … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang Episode-4, featuring Robbie Cheadle!
Friday, March 17, 2023 Hello, everyone and happy Saint Patrick’s Day. I put a lot of thought into how to handle the next episode of Atonement in Zugzwang. You see, I asked Robbie Cheadle for a recipe to use to drive the next installment. I randomly chose the “three things” that drive that episode from … More Prelude to Episode 4 — A Special Recipe from Robbie Cheadle!
Thursday, March 16, 2023 Welcome to my sanctuary. I call it the Teagan Zone. Take care as you enter — it can be a strange and mysterious place. My fictional town, Atonement, Tennessee is filled with strange and mysterious things. An item that is about to come into play (pardon the pun) in my blog … More #ThursdayDoors in Atonement TN — The Chessboard in Play
Saturday, March 11, 2023 Welcome to my sanctuary, everyone. After another rough week, I hope you are ready to enter this safe place and relax. The random reader things, which drive this episode are from fellow blogger and new author, Dan Antion. Last year he gradually released three books of a series. And a little bird … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 3, Featuring Dan Antion
Saturday, March 4, 2023 Hello, everyone. Welcome back to my new, spontaneously written, reader-inspired serial, Atonement in Zugzwang. If you missed it, or if you need to refresh your memory, click here for Episode 1. Many of you know Resa McConaghy for the mural photos, Art Gown sketches, and the gowns she actually makes. Did … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 2, Featuring Resa McConaghy
Thursday, March 3, 2023 Welcome to my sanctuary, everyone. A decade ago, I made my “brand” in the blogosphere by writing serial stories. Those stories were completely spontaneous and driven by random things from readers. The things set the location, most of the characters, and the plot. After finishing The Armadillo Files in 2022, I took … More #ThursdayDoors — To a New Interactive Serial
Saturday, February 25, 2023 Hello, everyone. I’m finally ready to take the plunge into an all new, three things style serial. You may have noticed that strange word in the title. To over-simplify, zugzwang (German for “compulsion to move”) is a situation found in chess and other turn-based games when a player is forced to … More New 3-Things Serial! — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 1, Featuring Chris Graham
Saturday, February 18, 2023 Welcome back to my sanctuary, everyone. It’s serene here… and at once it’s utter chaos. How’s that? I have a new family. A few of you from Facebook already know this. Pixabay Of course, I had that longstanding vow that I would never go through the gut-wrenching pain of losing another … More INTRODUCING…
Sunday, February 12, 2023 I know my presence in the blog world has been unpredictable lately. This is a personal update. Don’t worry, I’m not going to delve into my heartache, past or present. When Aspen died, eight years ago, I swore that Crystal would be the final feline. Throughout her 16 ½ years, Crystal … More A Personal Update
Saturday, February 4, 2023 Thanks for sticking around. I was gone for quite a while (without Internet). It seems like a lifetime ago that I created the above party bus for the launch of the second novel in the Atonement series. I was surprised when it showed up today, but it’s fitting for this post. In … More Poll — What Supernatural Creature?
Wednesday, February 1, 2023 What’s that you said? “Hello, stranger!” Well, yes. I actually feel like a stranger, since I was without Internet for so long and unable to be here. I’m trying a new setup. At this point, I don’t feel very positive about it, but we’ll see how it goes. Now that I’m … More Wednesday, Writing for the Senses — Sight
Saturday, January 14, 2023 Welcome back to my sanctuary, everyone. Ha. Not that kind of look. Although I’ve had my eye on an idea. You see, I’m still not feeling up to starting a new “three things” style blog serial. However, I’ve been thinking about preselecting the setting for the next serial, and the setting … More New Year, New Look — Atonement, Tennesse
Saturday, December 17, 2022 Welcome back to my sanctuary, everyone. I hope the holiday season is bringing joy your way. I know all of you are busy, so today’s short story will be quite short. Actually, it’s a rerun from 2015, a little slice of life from my Atonement, Tennessee universe. It seems like a … More Weekend #ShortStories — a Rerun from Atonement, TN
May 7, 2020 The multi-talented Resa McConaghy just did a post about my little collection of short stories, The Glowing Pigs – Snort Stories of Atonement, Tennessee. I’m tickled pinker than Deme or Honeybell! In addition to her lovely Art Gowns, Resa photographs and shares brilliant murals and street art that she finds. She’s used … More Resa Honors the Glowing Pigs — Graffiti Lux Art & More
Hearing, Sight, Smell, Taste, Touch Wednesday, April 15, 2020 Traditionally those are the five senses. I suddenly decided to rerun this mini-series on The Senses. I originally did this series five years ago, so maybe it’s fitting. In novel writing I try to involve all your (the reader’s) senses. Today I want all of us … More Wednesday Writing with the Senses — Hearing
Wednesday, March 25, 2020 Laughter, they say, is the best medicine. So, wouldn’t be even better when something makes you snort? I write all sorts of stories. I’ve been told that I do some genre mash-ups. However, there’s one thing you can count on with my stories — whimsy. In the universe of Atonement, Tennessee, … More Laughter is good medicine — snorts are even better. #FreeBook
via An Interview with the wonderful, Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene Author and musician, Kevin Cooper (and his feline friends) invited me to his place to talk about my urban fantasy town, Atonement, Tennessee and the books that are set there. Of course they also wanted to know more about the calico of the novels, Lilith. … More Kevin Cooper and his cats had me over for “An Interview with Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene”
via Tales from Fraggle Towers Monday, December 10, 2018 I’m having a Wayne and Garth moment for not realizing the fabulous Fraggle had done a rockin’ review of not just one, but all the Atonement books — at Fraggle’s Other Place. So, I’m doing an extra post to share it. I hope you’ll click over and … More Tales from Fraggle Towers
Originally posted on No Facilities:
Think of this cover as the door to a wonderful book. Today is a very special edition of Thursday Doors – I am sharing doors from Atonement, Tennessee, the charming and very mysterious town created by Teagan R. Geneviene in her series of novels. If you enjoy reading Teagan’s serial…
Saturday, August 25, 2018 Deme and Honeybell, the otherworldly glowing pigs of Atonement, Tennessee had so much fun visiting with you recently that they talked me into letting them have the spotlight again today. Yes, it’s another snort story. If you’ve been following me for awhile, please forgive me for another rerun. The past couple of work-months have … More Matchmaking Pigs in Atonement, Tennessee
Saturday, August 18, 2018 Welcome everyone. You’ve entered my sanctuary. Today we’re visiting Atonement, Tennessee. I know it can be hard to find your way around in a fictional town. So, let’s have lunch at the local diner, L.O.L.A. Lola’s. I want you to meet the owner, Marge Tipton. Marge’s part in Atonement, Tennessee is quite small, but she … More Marge Tipton — Characters from Atonement, TN (& a Cover Reveal)
Saturday, July 28, 2018 Welcome, to my sanctuary. Come on inside and relax for a while. Writers are always talking about their WIP — or work in progress. At my “real job” I frequently have to ask executives and tech guys to “spell out” acronyms. I’m drowning in alphabet soup! So, I just now laughed when … More WIP vs LIP? Or Glowing Pigs and the Batmobile
Saturday, July 14, 2018 Welcome, everyone. There was an improvisational comedy show (1998 – 2004 or so) that always cracked me up. I thought it was the best exercise in creativity that I’d ever seen. It was “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” Drew Carey, Ryan Stiles, Wayne Brady, and Colin Mochrie could take any “line” … More Whose Line Is It? Mine?
Saturday, June 23, 2018 I can’t believe that it was way back at Christmastime, 2012 when I published my urban fantasy novel Atonement, Tennessee. That makes it downright embarrassing that I still haven’t released the second book! It’s written, but I have little time to give the editing and proofing process. Although I’m getting closer. … More Books set in TN & Atonement, TN Revisited
Saturday, June 9, 2018 Hello, one and all. Welcome to my sanctuary. Sit down on a sofa or curl up on a cushion. Today I have a special guest — author and entrepreneur Don Massenzio. Don has a twist in his upcoming book that he’s been kind enough to discus with me. It was not … More It’s about “Time” with Don
Wednesday, October 18, 2017 I’m so excited to get reviews! So I hope you’ll forgive me for crowing. Today author and “fairy whisperer” Colleen Chesebro* posted a review of my debut novel, Atonement, Tennessee. What a delight it was to read her mindful review with my morning coffee! I’m thrilled. Since Colleen is “the fairy whisperer“ I … More Jazz Age Wednesdays 6 ― Reviews & a Crossover Story
Originally posted on Myths of the Mirror:
My writing break has freed up some precious time for reading, and I have two more reviews to share. These books are quite different. I hope you give one or both a try. 😀 Click on Cover for Global Amazon Link No More Mulberries by Mary Smith My Review:…
For once I thought about doing a Valentine’s story before the last minute. It’s a good thing too, because I stumped myself. I wanted to use characters from Atonement, Tennessee, and bring back one from a past Valentine from Atonement, Tennessee as well. However, connecting that part to another Atonement character presented quite a problem. … More A Valentine from Atonement, Tennessee 2017
I’m tickled pink! I’m blushing to tell you about it, but… I feel like I’ve been put on a billboard in Time’s Square! My novel, “Atonement, Tennessee” was named book of the month, and me author of the month. By the way, that includes an incredibly generous free offer. That’s all from the versatile Kevin … More Book of the Month — Atonement, Tennessee
Hearing, Sight, Smell, Taste, Touch Traditionally those are the five senses. I thought it would be a fun change of pace to do a mini-series on The Senses. In novel writing I try to involve all your (the reader’s) senses. Today I want all of us to begin building a story together. One by one, we’ll use … More Mini Series — The Senses — Hearing
Welcome to Atonement, TN everyone. I’m giving myself a break this weekend and doing a rerun. But first… I’m revising this post. I wanted to share something new with you, even though it has little to do with this post. Monarch butterflies. The butterfly is a symbol of transformation. One thing for which people who analyze books … More Character Interview: Ralda Lawton — Features from Atonement, TN
Welcome back to Atonement, TN! Yes, this is my warped idea of taking a break — still making a weekly blog post. However, the interactive serial stories really are much more labor intensive than these posts. I actually am getting some writing done on Atonement in Bloom, my main novel in progress! Update — Writing Process … More Mirror of Truth — Features from Atonement, TN
First an Update — My Writing Process I began drafting Atonement in Bloom about a year ago (as I’ve already whined). Last week I saw that a long “magical” interlude right after the opening needed to happen later in the story. You’d think that would be a simple matter… However, delaying that part of the plot actually caused … More 79 Words & Duct Tape — Features from Atonement, TN
Here we have it — my first “between the serials” post. I admit that it feels a little strange, not writing a weekly episode after doing that for so long. Note: In the title of these posts I’m making a distinction between the name of the first novel and the name of the town. “Atonement, … More Good Mimosa Mornin’! — Features from Atonement, TN
Crowing Pains No, this is not the weekend, and you haven’t missed the steam locomotive to the Victorian Era — I’m here with a mid-week post! Many of you have heard me say how difficult it is for me to cope with the indie author necessity of shameless self-promotion. I’m going to start calling that crowing … More Crowing Pains
Perspectives For once I don’t feel like I’m engaging in shameless self-promotion. I guess that’s because it’s giving me the chance to share with you the wonderful talent of someone else. I’m proud as a peacock of the mindful review photo-artist Timothy Price did of Atonement, Tennessee. But I was absolutely stunned when I saw the photo-art … More Photo-Artist Tim Price Reviewed “Atonement, Tennessee
Originally posted at “Barb Taub — Writing & Coffee. Especially Coffee.” (If you’re looking for the serial, “Copper, the Alchemist, & the Woman in Trousers” go back one post) In my “real job” outreach is a buzzword. I see my blog as a great outreach effort. Through this blog I’ve met so many fascinating people and made … More Coffee with Barb & Teagan — Memorable Southern Characters
Happy Valentine’s Day my friends! I wish there had been time to write a new short story as my Valentine to all of you… But I’m going to re-Press the one I wrote last year. At least it will be new to some of you. What is new is the video I made for it. … More Valentine’s Day in Atonement, Tennessee
Originally posted at Chris The Story Reading Ape‘s Blog. Many thanks to Chris Graham (aka The Story Reading Ape) for hosting me at his amazing Author Promotions Enterprise blog. “The Ape” generously promotes authors on his blog, and he offers excellent resources for our use. However, he’s also a gifted cover artist. Be sure to take a … More Writing from an Unexpected Point of View
I really do get a lot of satisfaction from writing this blog, and especially from my interactions with all of you, my friends. Recently Mike and Evelyne, both tagged me to take part in the Meet My Main Character Blog Tour. If you’ve visited their blogs, then you know how enjoyable they are — if not, … More Meet My Main Character Blog Tour
A Mid-Week Challenge Yes everyone — I just challenged you (the blogger said with a Cheshire grin).Whether or not you see yourself as a writer, this will be a good mental exercise. Write a paragraph or a page — from the point of view of an animal. I find that creative writing is easier if there … More Atonement Character Interviews: Lilith
I blogged this snippet a while back — before the release of my novel, “Atonement, Tennessee.” Now that the paperback and e-book editions are available, I’m sharing it as a mid-week post for those who might have missed it. This excerpt, this calico calamity, leads the heroine of “Atonement, Tennessee” into a tense situation. Lilith the cat … More Calico Calamity an Atonement Excerpt
I thought it would be fun to post a Valentine for all of you — in the form of a short story. I admit the idea of writing a story for everyone came to me a bit late, so I knew I’d have to scramble to get it finished in time, especially since I wanted to … More Your Valentine from Atonement, Tennessee
This weekend I will give you another episode of the Three Ingredients serial. However, as a mid-week post, I’m giving you another character interview from my novel, Atonement, Tennessee. It should give you some insight into everyday life in that fictional town. So here goes! Chip from Italian 2 Go A young man walks into my office … More Atonement Character Interviews: Chip the Delivery Boy
The Story Begins I’m posting this especially for those who have requested something longer to read. I’m listening to your comments, and I aim to please! So here is a rather long excerpt from the beginning of “Atonement, Tennessee,” my debut novel, published on Christmas Eve 2013. With our “interactive” serials, The Three Things, and The Three … More Atonement, TN: Beginning
Don’t worry. I won’t leave you hanging with the Three Ingredients Serial. Episode-7, “E. coli, Marmite, Burner” is in progress. (Spock’s Sister and I worked out some changes to her ingredients.) I hope everyone will be thinking of food-related ingredients to send me for future episodes. You’re welcome to leave them in a comment. (Hint -hint.) While you wait for the … More Character Interviews: Lacey Hampton
Atonement, Tennessee – Now Available Tah-dah! I finally self-published “Atonement, Tennessee,” which I wrote last year for National Novel Writing Month. Publishing this novel is a gift to myself. Two other times this year I planned to release this book, and then I got so discouraged that I did not. I know that working full … More To Me — From Me, a Limited Release
Setback Maybe this is a picture of a gate opening, but I feel like it is closing. (This is actually one of the images I considered for the book cover.) I really should have known not to put it “in print” last weekend, when I did the cover reveal and said I hoped to publish … More Launch Postponed: Atonement, Tennessee
I can’t help feeling pretentious, announcing a cover reveal on my little blog, for my little novel, Atonement, Tennessee. I never delude myself that I write great literature, and this one is purely meant to be entertainment. (Granted, I am very serious about The Dead of Winter, but even there I don’t pretend to write … More Cover Reveal: Atonement, Tennessee
Calico Calamity, Excerpt — Atonement, Tennessee This excerpt, this calico calamity, leads the heroine of “Atonement, Tennessee” into a tense situation. Lilith the cat has a knack for finding those, and a few such are told from her point of view in the novel. I use the calico as a device to let you know about … More Calico Calamity — Atonement
Indie Publishing – My Latest Lesson It’s rather amazing, how much there is to learn about indie (independent) publishing. I’m getting practice with blogging. Now I need to try a pitch. The NaNoWriMo organization had a “Pitchapalooza” this month. It’s supposed to be only 200 words… (Yikes!) This is a random drawing; only 25 entries … More NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza!
Wednesday I was thrilled to finally see a letter from the Copyright Office. I did everything to register the copyright for “Atonement, Tennessee” back in December, but had not received the certificate. It was exciting to read over it, and be able to hold it in my hand. However, I’m disappointed about the condition of … More “Atonement, Tennessee” Copyright Certificate
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