Wednesday, April 17, 2024 Welcome to another double-duty post. This is about lawn work, classic rock and roll, and of course, whatnot! Let’s be honest. My yard, front or back, looks awful. Today I thought maybe I could just imagine seeing something fun out there. So let’s set the tone with some music from Credence … More Whatnot Wednesday & #ThursdayDoors — Looking Out My Back Door
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 Hello, everyone. Happy spring. To celebrate the new season, I have a handful of “whatnots.” They range from sublime to silly. We all need a big dose of happy. Have fun. Music This swaying, sultry, sublime song of spring in the video below is Ella Fitzgerald and Some Other Spring. I … More Whatnot Wednesday: Spring
Wednesday, September 16, 2020 Welcome to my sanctuary. I didn’t have a real post for today, because I’m struggling to keep up — as usual. However, I wanted to share a positive thought, and send you a “good vibe.” This is known as the “Metta Prayer” or meditation. No one seems to know who first … More Wednesday Writing — Bless You
Wednesday, November 27, 2019 I am endlessly grateful to have friends and readers across this planet. In my country, tomorrow is supposed to be a day of gratitude, the giving of thanks, Thanksgiving Day. I give thanks for each and every one of you, no matter where you are, or what the day means to you. … More I Give Thanks for You
Saturday, August 11, 2018 Robert Matthew Goldstein is my “partner in crime” illustrating the #DieselPunk serial that you’ll find on my Jazz Age Wednesdays posts — “Hullaba Lulu.” Sometimes Rob also makes videos that parallel the Lulu-verse. He just did a fabulous one featuring (fictionalized) Nikola Tesla and the electric car that I wrote into the serial. That … More Baby You Can Drive My (Novel’s) Car
This isn’t really a post. No, you aren’t imagining being here… Chris Graham hosted me at the Story Reading Ape’s tree-house for this post in July, 2017. I had also published it on LinkedIn in 2015 — but I forgot to put it in my own “Motivational” category here. So that’s all I’m really doing … More Thriving Thursdays: Danger!
Hello all. It’s time for my once-a-month guest post at the tree-house of the Story Reading Ape, aka Chris Graham. On Thursdays I make a special point of helping people thrive, and that’s why I’ve gone to visit the Ape. (Please swing by and say hello — click here — because I had to disable comments here today, with … More Thriving Thursdays: Some will never find it. Will You?
Thursday, October 19, 2017 Hello everyone. Welcome to another Thriving Thursday. I’m Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene here with a guest post for Chris Graham, the Story Reading Ape. Click over to the “tree-house” and say hello — I’ve disabled comments here. Thriving Thursdays: Busy? Maybe That’s a Good Thing Too busy to be discouraged — but not too busy to thrive! Here … More Thriving Thursdays: Busy? Maybe That’s a Good Thing
Thriving Thursdays: What’s More Important than Knowledge? Hello all. I’m Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene. Huge thanks to Chris the Story Reading Ape, for hosting me. I welcome you to another Thriving Thursday at the tree-house. I hope you’ll click over and visit us there. (I’ve closed comments here.) So, what’s more important than knowledge? Maybe you think … More Thriving Thursdays: What’s More Important than Knowledge?
Thriving Thursdays: Thrive or Success? Posted at The Story Reading Ape. I’ve disabled comments here, so I hope you’ll visit Chris and me at the tree-house. Hello down there! It’s me, Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene. Yes, I’m up in the tree-house again. Thanks to Chris the Story Reading Ape for hosting me for another Thriving Thursday. You don’t necessarily … More Thriving Thursdays: Thrive or Success?
Welcome to another Thriving Thursday, everyone. I’m Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene here with a guest post for the Story Reading Ape. Since Chris Graham is my host for these monthly posts, I have disabled comments here. Please click over and say hello to the awesome Ape (click here). Thriving Thursdays: It Could Be Raining It’s hard to thrive when … More Thriving Thursdays: It Could Be Raining
Hello everyone, I’m Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene, taking a moment to lift you up, to help you thrive. What better place for me to do that than from the marvelous tree-house of the Story Reading Ape? Thriving Thursdays: We Rise Sometimes I feel de-motivated, denied, discounted, discombobulated, or any other de or dis that nobody enjoys. However, there is one … More Thriving Thursdays: We Rise
Hello everyone. Welcome back to my rerun of last year’s mini-series, in support of Get Caught Reading Month. It’s about the escapades of our intrepid band of bloggers and their pets. Who could resist those fur babies? If you were here last year, I’m delighted that you’ve stuck with me. If this is new … More Get Caught Reading — The Sign of the Ape 3 (2016 Rerun)
“Hey Sheba! Whatcha got there? A cookbook? Applesauce! You could use one. Hold on… is that a cookbook for salads? Are you sure you can manage a salad without burning it?” “Ha! Pip, I hope you realize that you get your cooking skills (or the lack thereof) from me. Besides, I happen to have won … More Mocha Dacquoise Cake And The Winners Of the Giveaway
Thriving Thursdays: Fear or Courage Yeehaw! I’m back at the Tree-house again with Chris the Story Reading Ape, for another Thriving Thursday! This post is already live at his site. He has a lot of other great stuff too, so be sure to visit my favorite Ape. I’ve been down with a nasty sinus-allergy … More Thriving Thursdays: Fear or Courage?
Boy Did He Get a Wrong Number aka Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam I pay regular visits to this blog’s spam folder, because sometimes I find old friends marooned there. Don Massenzio was a good sport about being trapped there. Of course most of the things I usually find are downright insulting people who want to tear … More Boy Did He Get a Wrong Number
Thriving Thursdays: What Scares You? Thanks to Chris the Story Reading Ape once again for inviting me to be a guest at the tree-house. This post is already live there, but I want to re-share it here too. (Click here.) Of course every day I wish for you to thrive. However, Thursday is the day … More Thriving Thursdays: What Scares You?
To read “What if I Fall -1” just click here. Welcome back. I’m playing catch-up again, re-posting some of the Thriving Thursdays mini-posts that The Story Reading Ape has so generously allowed me to do from his tree-house. Thriving Thursdays: What if I Fall – 2 What if I fall? What if someone laughs? What if it’s … More Thriving Thursdays: What if I Fall – 2
If you have already seen this post, forgive me. It is one of a series of monthly guest spots I’ve been doing at The Story Reading Ape’s blog. I’m adding it here to my Motivational section. Since it’s “been done” be sure to pay a visit to the Ape. Just click here. Thriving Thursdays: The Value of … More Thriving Thursdays: The Value of Nonsense
You may have already seen this post. It is one of a series of monthly guest spots I’ve been doing at The Story Reading Ape’s blog. I’m adding it here to my Motivational section. Since it’s “been done” be sure to visit at the Ape’s tree-house. Just click here. Thriving Thursdays: Adjust Accordingly I was … More Thriving Thursday: Adjust Accordingly
My heartfelt thanks to Chris Graham, the one and only Story Reading Ape, for hosting me at his terrific blog on the third Thursday of each month. In order to build my “Motivational” section, I’m posting it this way (rather than the standard re-blog). However, please visit the Ape to leave a comment at the … More Thriving Thursdays: What if I Fall – 1
Happy New Year everyone! I didn’t have this video/greeting finished in time to add it to my regular weekly post. However, the Year of the Monkey wreaked such havoc that I had to celebrate its passing. My post on Friday, wasn’t a proper New Year’s greeting. So I’m doing the traditional recap of … More Goodbye Mean Old Monkey — Happy New Year
Today I thought a little “writing process” post would be fun. So I ask you… Is your writing beastly? Don’t get defensive. I’m sure your words are beautiful. However, maybe it should be beastly. One way to animate your words is to well — animalize them. (No, that is not a word. Now it’s a “Teaganese” … More Is Your Writing Beastly?
Originally posted on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog:
There used to be a list of jokes about keeping a healthy level of insanity. A good sense of whimsy, an active imagination — those things will help you thrive. “I like nonsense — it wakes up the brain cells…” Dr. Seuss Here’s one more whimsical quote.…
In the USA the Thanksgiving holiday was celebrated this week. I’m grateful for those of you who have continued to visit and offer encouragement even though I’ve stopped giving away episodes of a novel or serial. I’m thankful for you. My National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) story, The Delta Pearl, is set on a very … More The Art of Taking a Break: Rolling on a Riverboat
Welcome everyone! To most sane people it would seem like the intense challenge of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) would be the last thing anybody who desperately needs to decompress should add to their endless pile of stress. However, it seems to be the monumental distraction that I needed. For anyone who is participating in NaNoWriMo … More The Art of Taking a Break: Slow Ride
Originally posted on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog:
“You can choose to live on the front row… or the third row.” I love this old photo and the vivid progression it shows. It really does speak a thousand words. The pair of women on the third row look like sisters. I can imagine they…
Help! I’ve slipped into the Twilight Zone! I don’t talk work, religion, or politics here. So even though I’ve brought it up, let’s not comment about it. I’m just giving you my state of mind. But I don’t think I have to talk about it for you to understand why I have a surreal feeling … More The Art of Taking a Break: Twilight Zone
Hello, everyone. I’m here with a quick update to thank you all for your support. Special thanks for leaving three things to keep me writing my new, and totally “pantser” novel, The Delta Pearl. My word count is not up to snuff, but this year that is not the point. National Novel Writing Month is proving … More The Art of Taking a Break: NaNoWriMo Mania
Hello, everyone. You’re about to discover how demented my definition of taking a break can be… With dogged determination I endeavor to disengage form things that develop stress. Of course I get more, different, worse stress in return. I decided a distraction of monumental proportions was in order. No, not that kind of monument, though I’d … More The Art of Taking a Break: Insanity
I give my heartfelt thanks to Chris the Story Reading Ape for hosting me at his tree-house every third Thursday of the month for these Thriving Thursday posts. Kindly click on the link below to leave your comments at his blog. Thriving Thursdays: Garbage Thinking – Guest Post… Thriving Thursdays Garbage Thinking You’re getting ready for … More Thriving Thursdays: Garbage Thinking
Welcome, everyone. I’ve said that I would be taking some time off from Teagan’s Books, so why am I here? Well, I am taking a break, but I don’t want anyone to forget that I exist. I’ve realized that break taking truly is an art form. Plus it’s an art that I desperately need to figure-out. … More The Art of Taking a Break: 1
Hearing, Sight, Smell, Taste, Touch Welcome back everyone. This is the final installment of my mini-series on the five senses. I’ve been having a great time with this and I’m happy to see you again. I’m sincerely touched that this series has been so well received. But that’s a different kind of touch than the … More Mini-Series — The Senses — Touch
Hearing, Sight, Smell, Taste, Touch Welcome back to my mini-series on the five senses. Last weekend I interrupted this series by posting a Valentine’s story. The previous installment of this series was about the sense of smell, and I was glad everyone came out to sniff around! (Okay… I’ll try to control myself with the play … More Mini-Series — The Senses — Taste
I’d like to thank the Academy… By the “Academy” I mean the group of wonderful people, writers, chefs, photographers, readers, and bloggers who come here to Teagan’s Books each week. You see, when I introduced the previous episode, I got a little off track. Ever since, I have felt that I did not do justice to the … More A Shout-out – Copper, the Alchemist, & the Woman in Trousers
Hello my friends. As this year draws closer to a close, I feel a sense of gratitude, because I am sincerely thankful to each of you. It’s been a very difficult year for me. Though that is because of a facet of my life that I don’t blog about, a few of you know some details. … More Holiday Hosting: Chance to Win Books by Jo Robinson
My favorite of all holidays… and my favorite yearly challenge… It’s my time of year! So for all my spirited, Ghost in the Kitchen-loving, heavenly haunt hunters, poltergeist pursuers, and gremlin getters I bid you — Happy Halloween! I’m glad my spirits are high (and I don’t mean Maestro Martino has gotten locked into another wine … More Happy Halloween and Happy NaNoWriMo
Welcome to the My Workspace Blog Hop. When smart, funny, and talented, Jo Robinson tagged me for this bloghop I did a double take. “What workspace? ” I thought. When I lived in the desert southwest I had a detached house with a little work room I used for writing and crafts. It was not a … More My Workspace Blog Hop
Stand up! Those two words can mean several different things in the dictionary. remain/be valid, be sound, be plausible, hold water, hold up, stand questioning, survive investigation, bear examination, be verifiable We might also stand up for a cause, like the power of a simple hug. Or we might stand up for ourselves. Andy Avis did … More Stand Up
Granny Fanny was so angry, frustrated, and worried about Pip that she couldn’t take any more. Granny says she’s sending our flapper home to her father! You know… I just realized that last weekend I forgot to add a “ghostly ingredient” from the Jar of Spooky Things. But that’s beside the point. I had an … More Three Ingredients: Granny Is Angry, What Would You Do?
Authors and Cats How could I miss World Cat Day? But I almost did! I’ve absolutely no idea why my cats were letting me overlook it. They probably meant to let me know at some point between their after lunch nap and their mid-afternoon nap. If not, then before their pre-dinner nap. There have been … More World Cat Day 2014
As I had my morning coffee, the news caster told about a community who’s quiet home-life is to be shattered by the installation of a shooting range. Ever a multi-tasker, I was also looking at my online things — and I saw this powerful image. From Romanian to English: One word, signifying what each wants in life, … More Awesome Image from Ileana
Look for Hidden Treasure Today, I am humbled that Daniel at Willy Nilly To and Fro ~ the Philosophy of Inanity wanted to nominate me for a Liebster award. If you’ve been reading “Teagan’s Books” for very long, then you’ve seen that I tend to make up my own rules for awards and other things … More Calling All Novelists and Liebsters!
Earlier this week a challenge showed up in my inbox. It was already a month old, but it was part of a newsletter with various things from Amazon and Create Space. I looked at for a minute… and decided to play. The Micro Story Challenge Tell a story with a beginning, middle, and end in a single, yet … More The Micro Story Challenge
Happy May Day Since it’s actually still April (here anyway) forgive me for being early. For a moment I deluded myself that I could do a mid-week episode of our 1920’s serial (and I might add that it’s coming along nicely, if I do say so myself). However, that was more than I can manage … More Happy May Day
Sunshine-super-hugs to all of you! Why? Do I need a reason? You’ll have to click through to YouTube… I hope this video makes you feel as good as it made me feel. Great-big hug, teagan
Why am I here when I have so much work that really has to be finished today? I saw something that I couldn’t resist — and this doesn’t take nearly as much time as making an episode of our “Three Ingredients” serial. Sometimes things change, beyond our control, when they’d be much better left as they were. … More Create Changes
Bullying is simply despicable.
Blogs that Bring Me Sunshine Here, it is officially spring… though I’m not sure you could say that spring has truly sprung — especially after seeing the weather forecast. While I’m inside, I know that I really should be writing the next episode of The Three Ingredients. But I think it is still simmering in my … More Sunshine and Spring
What are you supposed to do if you get the same award more than once? Hummm… I’d say the answer to that is… Bend the rules! Here’s a big “Internet hug” to Joe at “Stepping Out with an Agoraphobic” for mentioning Teagan’s Books on his blog with this award. Pay Joe a visit at his … More The Liebster Award Returns
I know… I’m breaking my rule again — the one about only doing writing related posts. However, this was so timely that I thought I should share it. Many of us have our own home remedies, holistic ideas, and supplement strategies. These (below) are not exactly like the things I do, but they’re similar. (Additionally, I swear … More Survive Flu Season with the Ultimate Winter Defense
I understand that today is Global Belly Laugh Day. Now I haven’t had time to investigate whether or how this might be any official sort of “Day,” so I guess the mail will be delivered and the banks will be open. And you’d best go to work if you’re scheduled to do so today – … More Global Belly Laugh Day
Originally posted on Eye-Dancers:
I love words. I always have. I caught the bug at a very early age. I remember when I was eight years old, reading comic books, I would sometimes come across words I’d never heard of. When I did, I would immediately put the comic down and open the dictionary I…
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
Three Ingredients Serial What’s next? Thanks to everyone who sent “votes” on what you wanted to do next – now that we reached a conclusion in the Three Things Serial storyline. It was a three-way tie, appropriately enough! So I’m going with the one that is the biggest challenge for me. (Yes, I’m just twisted … More What’s Next? New “Interactive” Serial
I was shocked — but in a good way — when Lynn at Strangled Thoughts and Random Musings very kindly sent me this award. As someone so aptly said, these awards are sort of an Internet hug. So big hugs back to you Lynn. Don’t you just love the dragon picture? I don’t know who painted it, but … More Dragon’s Loyalty Award
Jane Wenham-Jones wrote these words. I enjoyed her “About” post so much that I asked her if I could share it with you. Enjoy, teagan About.
I try to limit this blog to writing related posts. Maybe I’m celebrating reaching the National Novel Writing Month goal of a draft novel of 50,000 words (yay!). Or maybe I really am just a crazy cat lady… However I thought this was one of the best cat videos I’ve ever seen. The narrator sounds … More Guide to Caring for Humans
First, to all of you in the USA… Happy Thanksgiving! Now, back to NaNoWriMo. It’s all about improving my skills as a writer. That’s my relationship with National Novel Writing Month. I’m always trying to find a way to get better as a writer. Every time I sit down and open a story/file, I think … More NaNoWriMo Got to Get Better
There are just a handful of days left for National Novel Writing Month 2013. Is your muse roaming free and supplying you with details? Or are you trapped in the prison of your word count? Are your ideas orderly? Or did your train of thought chug away to parts unknown? A rhythm helps — a steady, … More NaNoWriMo — Prison of Your Word Count
Many thanks to Debra Paulson for sending me this “Internet hug” as she so charmingly named it. And I’m thanking her for her patience, as she sent it back in October. I never forgot though. I’ve just been trying to “WriMo-mo-mo” for National Novel Writing month. (Follow the link and take a look at her … More Liebster Blog Award
You can’t be “on fire” all the time. You’d burn out. Fast. Periods of being on fire, no matter what your passion, need to be followed by times of rain. Not quenching rain — you don’t want to put out the fire of that ambition. What I’m talking about is nourishing, steady rain. A rhythm … More NaNoWriMo — Fire then Rain
Yay! This week I took leave from work for an entire week of “stay-cation.” And i’m excited to say that I’ve been on WriMo fire! So I couldn’t resist a new theme song for today. I’m with The Doors again. Can you guess which song? WriMo-Fire! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MifWlrkEBD4 Light My Fire
National Novel Writing Month continues. Here comes day-13… Do you know where your mojo is? Is it out somewhere wandering the “dark and stormy night” without you? If that’s the case… Get your mojo risin’! That’s right. Here’s the music to get your mojo risin’ whether you’re on the west coast, east coast, somewhere in … More NaNoWriMo: Where’s Your Mojo
In the USA, today is Veterans Day — a day set aside to honor and remember all people who have been in the armed service. A respectful “Thank You.” It’s also National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) day #11. Time to remember why we’re taking part in this insanity! I’ve had theme songs to keep me going. … More NaNoWriMo: the Paperback
First let me promise you — I will post another episode of our “Three Things Serial” this weekend. I have not forgotten Pip, Boris, and company, even though National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is in full swing. A few days ago I was ready to “WriMo Mo Mo Mo” and Billy Idol’s Rebel Yell got … More NaNoWriMo Stuck in the Middle
NaNoWriMo Day 4 The fourth day dawns… I really wanted to hit the ground running this year. Unfortunately I am as slow at novel writing as ever. I remembered this post from last year – Billy Idol’s song became my personal theme. Whether or not you are a writer I hope it will encourage you … More NaNoWri-Mo Mo Mo Mo!
All through October I’ve considered strategies for how to deal with a full-time job, this blog (especially the Three Things Serial), and other un-blogged things, and National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), — which begins in a few short days. Some said “Oh no, don’t try to do NaNoWriMo this year. You already have too much on your plate.” And … More NaNoWri-Less Three Things
Note from Teagan When I got up this morning, the first thing I noticed in my inbox was a blog post from Tim Flanagan. He writes wonderfully inventive and entertaining books aimed at teens (and adults like me, who would much rather read that kind of thing than grown up books). He’s promoting Teen Reading … More Teen Reading Week Starts Today
It’s past time I was getting organized for this year’s National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)… and I’ve not done a bit of planning. I’ve been working so hard at trying to make life in general better, that right now I just can’t imagine expending the huge effort NaNoWriMo took last year. I am not feeling at … More Bubbles of What-If
Need a mid-week boost? I’m sharing a motivational message that I wrote last year. *** Many business and leadership books, seminars, and training sessions have been built around L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Life is full of “lions and tigers and bears. Oh my!” just like Oz. But we have to keep moving down … More Oz and Accountability
Don’t “call shotgun.” Get behind the wheel! Remember the Three Things Serial is driven by you sending me “things” (preferably three of them) to include in the story. There’s no telling what road the story will take, until you send the “things” that point the direction. So get your mental wheels turning. Loosen up … More You’re Driving
When my [then] boss asked me to write one of the Weekly Messages about trust, I told him I couldn’t write about that. He stopped and looked at me in astonishment — I had never said that, no matter what topic, or what farfetched combination of topics, he threw at me. There is no trust … More Trust? Seriously?
The lack of sunshine has a big impact on me — and not a good one. On this rainy, gloomy morning I had to give myself a dose of positivity. When I think of pep-talks, I usually think of the weekly motivational messages that were part of the work I did for a former boss. … More Don’t Lose Heart
Has your path in life left you sort of walking around aimlessly? I confess to feeling that way lately myself. So I’m sharing another of my erstwhile “Weekly Messages” that I used to write at work. At that time I knew where I was “walking,” even if I might feel a tad aimless right now. … More Create Your Own Path
I gave myself a rule to restrict “Teagan’s Books” to writing and indie publishing related topics. However, with a previous director at work, one of my tasks was writing a motivational message every week. During the past few days one of those messages has repeatedly come to mind. Maybe, I said to myself, someone needs … More Facing Fear
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