Saturday, October 31, 2020 The Delta Pearl Happy Halloween, my chuckaboos! Unfortunately, The Delta Pearl is not here today. Sometimes writing is harder to accomplish than others. The steampunk riverboat will be back, I promise. I’ve begun to tie up some of the threads that Amethyst and I have woven into the web of this … More Happy Halloween & Stuff
Wednesday, November 21, 2018 Welcome to Hidebound Hump Day. Find your seat. The #SteamPunk train is preparing to leave the station. Oh, and buckle up, because we may encounter some dangerous curves. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day in the USA. No matter where you are, I am thankful to have you on this train. My wish … More Hidebound Hump Day — Cornelis Drebbel 18
Wednesday, November 14, 2018 Welcome back to Hidebound Hump Day, everyone. I’m happy to see you. In this chapter I give you a couple of hints for something that will be revealed in the near future. So I hope you’ll remember later in the journey of this #steampunk train. Previously with Copper, the Alchemist, and … More Hidebound Hump Day — Cornelis Drebbel 17
Wednesday, November 7, 2018 Hello, November! It’s National Novel Writing Month again — or #NaNoWriMo as it’s also called. I have more going on than usual, so this year I’m doing the editing version. I’m bookizing the third 1920s novel of Pip and Granny Phanny’s adventures, A Ghost in the Kitchen — Three Ingredients 2. I’ll keep you … More Hidebound Hump Day — Cornelis Drebbel 16
Wednesday, November 22, 2017 Hey Sheiks and Shebas, I’m pos-i-lutely thankful that you’re at Jazz Age Wednesdays! Yes, November is National Novel Writing Month (#NaNoWriMo), even at Thanksgiving (USA). And yes, I’m still woefully behind on my word-count toward drafting a novel of 50,000 words in a month… but I’m so grateful for all of you … More Jazz Age Wednesdays 11 ― Turkey Time for Pip
Wednesday, November 15, 2017 Welcome back to Jazz Age Wednesdays! You’re all the cat’s meow, but this 1920s story went to the dogs! Whether it is one dog or four remains to be seen. I shared this short story a while back in collaboration with A Pug in the Kitchen* where blogger-chef Suzanne cooked up some … More Jazz Age Wednesdays 10 ― Pip Sees a Pug
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 Wow, you’re the berries! I’m glad to see you back at Jazz Age Wednesdays! When I posted a Halloween story, Pip in the Field of Fear, you got to meet Pip’s friend Hank Hertz. Those of you who have read Murder at the Bijou — Three Ingredients I also know Hank. Awhile back, … More Jazz Age Wednesdays 9 ― Pip’s Friend Hank
Wednesday, November 1, 2017 Sheiks and Shebas, welcome to Jazz Age Wednesdays! (I’m probably causing frustrations by doing this… but I had something special to add, and I had already launched this mid-week post… So bear with me. Thanks to Dan Antion, OIKOS™-Redaktion, Victo Dolore, fragglerocking, and Olga olganm who had already commented.) My November is off to a pos-i-lutely … More Book of the Month Update to Jazz Age Wednesdays 8 ― Pip and the Potent Poltergeist
Please see the Updated Post. I am sorry for any inconvenience. Wednesday, November 1, 2017 Sheiks and Shebas, welcome to Jazz Age Wednesdays! My November is off to a pos-i-lutely neon-bright start! There is something in the wind about Murder at the Bijou — Three Ingredients I but that is all I can say right now… … More Jazz Age Wednesdays 8 ― Pip and the Potent Poltergeist
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
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
The steam locomotive is still on track. Episode-7 is here, although it seems like only yesterday I sent you a poll asking what kind of serial you wanted to do next. First I thought I’d give you a glimpse of my world. Since “Atonement in Bloom” will pick up where my novel “Atonement, Tennessee” left … More Copper, the Alchemist, & the Woman in Trousers: Episode 7
Welcome, my friends. Have I told you how much I appreciate your visits? Well, I do — a lot. Before I present Three Things, here’s the promised update on my National Novel Writing Month progress. Well, there hasn’t been a lot of progress. As of right now, I’m barely on schedule to finish on November 30th, and the weekend … More Rewind – Three Things Episodes 18 – 19
Hi there Sheiks and Shebas! I’m having a hard time coming up with an intro that will “hook” my readers. Honestly, I don’t mean to complain, but I’ve been battling a migraine on and off for two days. So All I can think of is… What did you do this week? Me? I killed a … More Rewind – Three Things Episodes 15 – 17
National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo as it is affectionately called, is underway. I started out with a lot of enthusiasm; let’s just hope it holds out. Writing the draft of a 50,000 word novel in a single month is grueling! While I’m slaving away at my keyboard, I’m posting a “rewind” of the original interactive … More Rewind – Three Things Episodes 6 – 9
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
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
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
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
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
There are several days to go before November breaks out in full blown NaNoWriMo. It would be against the rules for me to start writing my novel for this year’s National Novel Writing Month just yet. I have to wait until November to begin writing. Planning and other “writerly” tasks are allowed though. Images help me … More National Novel Writing Month 2013: Tatterdemallian
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
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
The NaNoWriMo folks have posted the 25 randomly drawn pitches. Neither of mine were drawn, but you can read the pitches that will be judged here: http://www.thebookdoctors.com/2013-nanowrimo-pitchapalooza. It also allows you to vote for your “fan favorite.”
While I was practicing my “pitching” I decided to quickly write a “Pitchapalooza!” entry for The Dead of Winter (along with the one I did for Atonement, Tennessee). The contest begins with a random drawing, but I figured – what the heck. I wasn’t any good at softball, but I hope I’m better at this … More Pitchapalooza! Dead of Winter
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!
Atonement, Tennessee was a style departure for me. I usually write what I like to call “quest type” fantasy. While it’s a fantasy, Atonement is written in first person, and set in our current, real world. It was designed to be something I could write ultra-fast for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) 2012. Since it … More A Departure
Synopsis: Atonement, Tennessee Look for some characters inspired by figures in Celtic mythology in this urban fantasy that comes with a side order of mystery. It is a dream come true for Ralda (short for Esmeralda). An old estate, complete with historic cemetery, and she’s won it at auction. Okay, she isn’t so excited about … More Synopsis: Atonement, Tennessee
This year I participated in my first National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). The challenge was to write a draft novel, of at least 50,000 words, just during the month of November. I didn’t think I could do it — but I did! Now I’m a NaNoWriMo winner with Atonement, Tennessee. It was quite a journey. … More My First Blog Post: Atonement, Tennessee: Draft Complete
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