And the Winners Are...

Many thanks to all of you who made the 2015 Realms Faire so special with your comments and participation. I hope you all had fun!

My gratitude goes to the five victims of the unfortunate vortex incident:

Alex J Cavanaugh, Cathrina Constantine, Ellie Garratt, Cassandra Webb, and Stuart R West.

Congratulations! You all escaped. I hope your lives were enriched during your trials and your encounters with a few devious Immortals left you relatively unscathed.

Now for the daily winners picked at random from the comments:

Monday – Pat Hatt

Tuesday – Christine Rains

Wednesday – Crystal Collier

Thursday – Yolanda Renee

Friday – M Pax

I will be contacting you by email shortly. Happy reading!

2015 Realms Faire - Alex vs War

Riddle Me This ~ Dueling Bards ~ Phasers ~ Unicorn Hunt ~ Who Roams Here? ~ Beware the Vortex ~ VelociRaffle ~ The Hero’s Dilemma ~Stockade Brigade ~ Hall of Doors ~ The Joust ~ Drench-a-Wench/Soak-a-Bloke

Beware the Vortex schedule

Monday, Nov 9th - Alex vs War

Tues, Nov 10th - Cathrina vs Jezebel

Wed, Nov 11th - Ellie vs Death

Thurs, Nov 12th - Cas vs War

Fri, Nov 13th - Stuart vs Death

Chronos has accidentally opened a vortex in the space-time continuum. A few people are trapped in Lucien's Bar, the gateway to the Underworld. The only way out is by challenging an Immortal to a contest. Today's test of skill:

Alex J Cavanaugh vs War

Sword fight

Okay, it's halftime, people. Alex has been hanging in there, swinging his sword for all he's worth. Even Captain Ninja gets tired, though. He needs your encouragement in the comments to win his freedom. Can you help him out?

Uh-oh. I think War might be thinking of cheating. He's off to the side, rubbing something on his sword. Don't let Alex down!

As a reward, one person each day will be picked at random from the comments to receive the following eBooks:

By River Fairchild:

Living the Afterlife - satire

Just Another Day in Purgatory - satire

Guardians of Telesma - NA shifter romantic fantasy

By Cerise Laudine:

Immortal Desires - highlander time travel romance

Winners will be posted here on Saturday, Nov 14th, so be sure to check back.
Remember to visit the other games in the Realms Faire, too! Lots of fun and prizes to be had!

Riddle Me This ~ Dueling Bards ~ Phasers ~ Unicorn Hunt ~ Who Roams Here? ~ Beware the Vortex ~ VelociRaffle ~ The Hero’s Dilemma ~Stockade Brigade ~ Hall of Doors ~ The Joust ~ Drench-a-Wench/Soak-a-Bloke

IWSG

Insecure Writers Support Group

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Visit the main page on Alex's blog for the complete signup list!

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Struggling here. I’m in a slump, struggling to write anything at all, my direction in life in flux – or at a standstill, depending on how I look at it. I can see light at the end of this cave I’m standing in, but I don’t head toward it. Maybe my motivation has rolled under somebody’s sofa. Would you check under yours for me? I’ll even take the dust bunnies clinging to it.

IWSG and a Cover Reveal!

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Visit the main page on Alex's blog for the complete signup list!

Where did May go? I think I blinked and it flew by. My writing has taken a boost though, so I’m happy. Everything else is being ignored but the muse is talking at a hundred miles an hour. I’m afraid to buy her a muzzle. She would chew through it, then bite me.

Are you all as busy? It seems that way to me. I’m happy for you. May your muses bless you with quantities of non-sucky words…or something along those lines. Stop by the IWSG and lend your strength to those who may be struggling. I know I got back on track because of the wonderful support from my online friends. Thank you all. You’ll never realize how helpful you’ve been.

And now for Carol Kilgore's Secrets of Honor cover reveal! Isn't it gorgeous?

Blurb:

By the end of a long evening working as a special set of eyes for the presidential security detail, all Kat Marengo wants is to kick off her shoes and stash two not-really-stolen rings in a secure spot. Plus, maybe sleep with Dave Krizak. No, make that definitely sleep with Dave Krizak. The next morning, she wishes her new top priorities were so simple.

As an operative for a covert agency buried in the depths of the Department of Homeland Security, Kat is asked to participate in a matter of life or death—locate a kidnapped girl believed to be held in Corpus Christi, Texas. Since the person doing the asking is the wife of the president and the girl is the daughter of the first lady’s dearest friend, it’s hard to say no.

Kat and Dave quickly learn the real stakes are higher than they or the first lady believed and will require more than any of them bargained for.

The kicker? They have twenty-four hours to find the girl—or the matter of life or death will become more than a possibility.

About Carol:

Carol writes grocery lists, texts to her family, new lyrics to old songs for her dogs, love notes to her husband, and novels for herself. And for you. In between, she blogs weekly at Under the Tiki Hut and is active on Facebook and Twitter.

She sees mystery and subterfuge everywhere. And she’s a sucker for a good love story—especially ones with humor and mystery. Crime Fiction with a Kiss gives her the latitude to mix and match throughout the broad mystery and romance genres. Having flexibility makes her heart happy.

You can connect with Carol and her books here:

Under the Tiki Hut blog:  http://www.underthetikihut.blogspot.com

Website with Monthly Contest: http://www.carolkilgore.net

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/carol.kilgore1

Twitter: http://twitter.com/carol_kilgore

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6094110.Carol_Kilgore

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Carol-Kilgore/e/B008FRCXQY

IWSG and Mea Culpa

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Visit the main page on Alex's blog for the complete signup list!

It’s May. The birds are singing. The flowers blooming. My inadequate efforts in April flash before my eyes. Once again, I must face the fact I am not Wonder Woman. Sigh

Mea culpa, for not visiting many during the A to Z. I could (happily, as it were) blame my muse but I didn’t meet all my obligations. I don’t know…maybe I bite off more than I can chew because I like to flog myself? Whatever it is, I always end up feeling guilty.

I’m making a promise to myself now – with all of you as witness – that I will allow myself time to WRITE, for that should be my main function as a writer, no?

Peace, love, and chocolate.

B Is For...and the IWSG

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Visit the main page on Alex's blog for the complete signup list!

Since I'm doing both IWSG and the A to Z, I'll stick with it being B day and talk about balance in your life. As writers, most of us have to rely on a day job, take care of the house and kids, do the cooking, spend time with the family. So where does the time for writing come in? Sometimes dead last, a few stolen moments, lost sleep.

I'd like to say I have the magic answer but I don't. I struggle with balance every day and usually lose. I need to find that sweet spot without resorting to a timer to do so. One thing I've noticed is if I refuse to turn on the computer in the morning, I do get more writing done. Facebook is such a wonderful distraction...

If you have a trick that's worked for you, leave it in the comments so we can share our experiences.

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B is for…

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Balance

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”

― Albert Einstein

Find the entire A to Z sign up list here and happy hopping!

IWSG and Cover Reveal for Beyond the Binding

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Visit the main page on Alex's blog for the complete signup list!

Procrastination, thou are an ugly wart on a donkey's hind end...

Is procrastination ever a good thing? Generally, I don't think so but I hate wasting time so I'm hard on myself. This winter has been one long bout of procrastination for me, writing-wise, and I'm not happy about it.

I did discover a silver lining inside the procrastination station the other day, though, as my train came to a stop and requested ice cream before moving on. What if I avoided what I should be doing by doing something else that was worthwhile?

I know what you're thinking…well, duh! But really, it's not that simple. I wanted to veg and watch some idiot movie. Instead, I wrote and scheduled all twenty-six freakin' days' worth of A to Z April Challenge posts! Yay!

The secret to motivation? It DIDN'T need to happen yet. Not until April, in fact. That made it 100% a FUN THING TO DO, instead of OMG IT'S NOT DONE YET!

Maybe I've found the key.

Do you ever trick yourself out of procrastinating?

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And now I have the pleasure of revealing the cover for Beyond The Binding, the companion eBook to the Composers For Relief Album. It's a beauty!

Embark on an exciting journey “Beyond the Binding” of the imagination with 29 authors from across the globe, in a groundbreaking collaboration where music meets fiction. Surrender to soaring compositions as they surge through the veins of every story, capturing the triumphant pulse of the notes in heart pounding sci fi, enchanting fantasy and gripping slices of realism.  

All proceeds of the Composers for Relief  album and Companion Collection ebook will go to Gawad Kalinga (“give care”) and GVSP (Gualandi Volunteer Service Programme), to support the relief efforts for victims of the deadliest natural disaster in Philippines’ history, Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

Ebook available from Amazon, Amazon UK, iTunes, B&N, Kobo, Sony, Diesel & Smashwords. (More links added as they go live)

Composers for Relief album available on ITunes, Amazon, CDBaby & Spotify

IWSG - Conflicting Advice

 

 

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group

 

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Visit the main page on Alex's blog for the complete signup list!

This month I'm honored to be one of the co-hosts for IWSG, along with: Bob Milne, Julie Dao, and Sarah Foster.

Let go of your fears. Push through your fears. Embrace your fears.

I've heard all of these in discussions about writing and finally figured out they mean the same thing. It's all in how you look at it – is the glass half full or half empty? It's still a half glass of liquid, no matter what you call it. The difference lies in how you assimilate the message.

A good friend once had a discussion on his blog about putting your characters in the worst possible situation. I'd heard this before and complained in the comments that I automatically think of death as the worst situation and I can't kill my MC! He said something profound to me that clicked. He said, "Turn it around. Make death the best possible thing that can happen to your characters."

I can't remember if I ever properly thanked Jay Noel for his insight and wisdom, so if I didn't, THANK YOU, JAY!

That solution really cleared up the fog in my brain. Don't worry. More fog immediately replaced it. You don't have to worry about me suddenly making sense.

Can you think of any conflicting messages you've received where one way clicked better than the others, even though they all meant the same thing?
Remember to visit others on the IWSG list and share the love!

IWSG

Buck Up And Quit Your Whining

Today is the Insecure Writers Support Group, founded by our favorite ninja, Alex “no hyperlink needed” Cavanaugh. The success of this group is due to the overwhelming support of so many great people – all of you who work tirelessly to help others and give encouragement or a helping hand.

I've been dragging my feet lately, watching my puny efforts at time-management get sucked into the abyss. I think it's typical for this time of year for many of us. We are pressed for time because of the holidays, family obligations, and so on. I've been morose because my writing isn't going as swiftly as I'd like.

Then I read a post on FaceBook about Michael's sister and her patchy hair because of chemo treatments. I might add here that Michael is providing moral support and driving her to and from the doctor, staying with her during treatments, etc. He'd posted, saying he had trimmed her hair to even it out.

Reading things like that spins my perspective and tilts it on its head...or my head. I'm feeling a bit tilted now.

Anyway, I allow myself to get bogged down in trivial details, forgetting that each day is a wonderful gift in itself, one to be embraced and lived to the fullest.

With that in mind, I'd like to point you toward some others who deserve a hug or three. Please visit the following people and say hi. They've been through some trying times lately. The best way to forget about your own insecurities is to provide a welcoming smile for someone in need. I'll apologize in advance if I've forgotten to put someone on this list. It's off the top of my head and with my last brain cell dangling.

Jeff Hargett

Julie Luek

M. L. Swift

M Pax

Al Diaz

Gary Pennick

 

Elephant's Child

 

IWSG and Weird Word Wednesday

Today is the Insecure Writers Support Group, founded by our favorite ninja, Alex “no hyperlink needed” Cavanaugh. The success of this group is due to the overwhelming support of so many great people – all of you who work tirelessly to help others and give encouragement or a helping hand.

A couple of weeks ago Alex asked "Who's your Hero?" on his blog. My answer:

"Anybody who keeps trying, pushing against the stream. *sounds like salmon is my hero*"

He said I made him laugh! Squee! I made the ninja laugh!

*clears throat*

Anyway, it got me to thinking about salmon.

*holds nose for a closer look*

In a way, I guess I'm serious. Writers do behave an awful lot like salmon. We are trying to spawn a book, swimming upstream against incredible odds and never giving up, no matter what obstacles are in our way. We could do a lot worse than emulating salmon. Except the dying at the end part.

So keep swimming, or trucking, or whatever keeps you writing!

I don't have the regular Weird Word Wednesday definition today. Instead, I have a question for all of you.

Would someone please explain to me why there is an "L" in salmon? Maybe I talk like a valley girl, but I've never heard anybody say that word and sound the L. Of course, I (properly) pronounce the town of La Jolla as "La Hoya" so I discriminate against the letter L anyway.

Anybody know the answer? Anybody feel like having salmon for lunch now?