Author: admin

February 4, 2019

If you could make one change in the world, what would it be?

Is world peace too much to ask for? Unfortunately, I think it is. It’s overwhelming to consider all the pieces and parts that it would take to make that happen 

So, I’m going to go for something not so out of reach but still lofty. I’d like to see everyone in the world have enough to eat.

Experts say it’s possible. It would take changes in what we eat and how we eat. Just the twenty-five percent of food that gets wasted between farm and.consumption could go a long way to filling the gap. Just think about the food that gets thrown out by supermarkets because it isn’t perfect. How about everything that doesn’t get eaten at restaurants because the serving sizes are so large?

The trick is getting the otherwise wasted food to the people who need it. The infrastructure to make it happen doesn’t exist. Of course, there are also government regulations and competing interests that get in the way.

Then there’s the debate about land that could be used to grow food being used to grow crops to make fuel. And another debate about our insistence of eating tons of beef and the effort and land that goes into growing crops to support that habit. And that leads to the debate about how much of the world’s food problems could be solved if we all ate healthier.


I’m not wise enough or powerful enough to solve all those issues. But if I could change just one thing in this world, I’d wave my magic wand and make sure no one was going hungry, and that the food they had was good quality.

Now let’s hear from you. If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?

February 4, 2019

If you could make one change in the world, what would it be?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

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January 28, 2019

Are humans better at creating or destroying?

In nature, destruction and creation are part of a never-ending cycle. A forest fire helps ensure the health of a new forest. A dead flower contains the seeds for new plants. A volcano destroys existing land to build more. A wolf will take down its prey to feed its cubs.

But humans are different. We have the ability to destroy for the sake of destruction and we use it. We’ve given the world the atomic bomb and the holocaust. The responsibility for the disappearance of hundreds of species- the dodo bird, the California grizzle bear, the passenger pigeon and hundreds of others- rest on humans. Of course, there’s the current ongoing debate about global warning and its potential effect on human civilization.

On the flip side, humans are capable of creating things of great beauty. Powerful music that stirs our emotions. Books that make us laugh or cry, or both. Lovely paintings and other artwork that touch our souls.

So which are humans better at?  Destruction can be easy, thoughtless, and swift. Being creative takes thought and effort. It can take months for a musician to write a song, years for an author to write a book, a lifetime for an artist to create a masterpiece. 

So I’m on the side that humans are better creators. It’s harder, but worth the effort. Now let’s see what the other authors have to say.


January 28, 2019

Are humans better at creating or destroying?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

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January 21, 2019

What keeps you up at night?

When I was younger, I could sleep through just about anything. Thunderstorms, cars honking, my husband snoring, Babies crying was the exception. I’d always wake up for my babies.

 But I’ve added a few years and I don’t sleep as well as I used to. Thankfully, I can still roll over and get back to sleep fairly quickly. And there are a few things that keep me awake.

I suspect my author friends are going to recognize this first one. If I’ve been struggling with a scene, searching for the right words, I’ll continue to mull it over when I’ve gone to bed. Sometimes, I’ll find the right way to move forward and hope I remember it in the morning. (Yes, I keep a notepad and pen by the bed- I’ve never used it!)

Then there’s the battle with the thermostat. (Not over the thermostat, with the thermostat.) I don’t understand how the temperature that was perfect when I crawled under the covers can suddenly get too hot in the middle of the night- and the thermostat hasn’t been touched. Gremlins. Gremlins are the only explanation.

Some nights, I worry about the health of family members. I’m not worried about mine because I’m in pretty good shape for my age. Not all of my family is so lucky. At least they are getting the proper medical care and that helps.

On rare nights I find myself thinking about my day job, going over checklists, making sure everything that had to be done got completed. Or trying to figure out ways to make the job run smoother. 

Those infrequent nights when I can’t shut down, I have a few tricks to turn off my mind and go to sleep. I call up my memories, I stand in front of my childhood home, and remember it how it was. Or, I take a walk up the dirt road that led past it. There was magic in the fields and woods, and that magic can still send me to sleep when I look for it.

Now, before I fall asleep, let’s go find out what keeps the other authors up at night.

January 21, 2019

What keeps you up at night?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

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January 14, 2019

Have you ever been duped by a so-called service to authors? And what is the best service you’ve ever used?

I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes I over-analyze and over-research simple things. I’ll spend several hours deciding which hotel to stay in on a trip. I’ll take at least that long or longer figuring out the best of several routes to take to our destination.

So it shouldn’t be a shocker that I do the same with my limited writing budget. I read endless posts to the writers groups I follow, check out the Writer’s Beware page from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and hunt down reviews for services I’m considering.

As I result, I don’t think I’ve ever been scammed. Sure, I’ve tried out services that I wasn’t happy with, but I’ve always received some results. Maybe not the ones I’d hoped for, but something.

For example, for my last release, I hired a publicity company. They got me lots of blog spots, facebook posts, twitter feed, but I still didn’t sell many books. They developed a nice banner for the release and several memes, but the book never grabbed the attention of readers. So, I don’t consider them a scam, just disappointing.

I tried out someone claiming to be an editor, but she was only a proofreader (and found a few things that needed corrected). I’ve paid for book promotion spots that didn’t get result even though they were sent to the mailing list.

But I’ve had some good experiences as well. Robin Reads and ENT  (Ereader News Today) are my favorite book promotion newsletters. (I haven’t tried BookBub yet.) Granted, Robin Reads is starting to get on the pricey side in comparison to sales, but they still sell books. And ENT does a great job reaching an audience.


My next ‘big” experiment will be in trying to get reviews. I think almost every author out there knows what a struggle that is. But I’m not ready yet to take the plunge and join a paid site. I need to do a lot more research first. Anyone have any experience they’d like to share?

While I’m waiting, I’m going to check out what our other authors are sharing, so I can find out what to avoid and what to add to my list of trusted services! 

January 14, 2019

Have you ever been duped by a so-called service to authors? And what is the best service you’ve ever used?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

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January 7, 2019


Share a recipe for a food that comes from one of your books.


Harmony Duprie, from my mystery series, lives a simple life. (With the exception of her salsa-red Jaguar.) She lives in a small apartment, buys used furniture, rarely eats out, preferring to cook her own food. Naturally, the food she cooks reflects that simplicity.


In the upcoming book, The Contessa’s Brooch, I have Harmony cooking hamburger soup for Lando and Scotty. (Remember them from Book 1? Yes, they are making a return to Oak Grove!) She puts them to work helping her chop the vegetables, figuring it was time to wean them away from fast food.


Cutting up the vegetables is the most time-consuming part of this recipe. (Besides the cooking time.) I suggest you do it before you start the actual cooking process.


Hamburger Soup


1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef (or do half and half of hamburger and Italian sausage for an extra kick in flavor)


3 stalks celery, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
4 cups shredded cabbage
1 sweet bell pepper, chopped ( I like to use one green, 1 yellow and 1 red pepper for eye appeal)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
4 cups beef broth (I usually end up using more)
1/2 tsp seasoning salt
1/2 tsp basil
1/4 tsp garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste


( I like to add chopped carrots for added color)


Brown ground beef , onions, celery, garlic and pepper until meat is no longer pink. Add cabbage and cook together. (In real life, unless you have a really big frying pan, you aren’t going to fit all that cabbage in it. I just add a little to the meat mixture to cook it, and throw the rest in the soup pot.)


Drain the meat mixture, then add the seasonings. Transfer the meat and vegetables to a stock pot, add the beef stock and tomato sauce. Mix. Simmer 30-35 minutes. 


I like to serve with a sprinkling of cheese on top and rolls for dipping. 


It’s the perfect dish for supper on a cold winter day.


Now that my mouth is watering, I’m off to see what the other authors are cooking!

January 7, 2019

Share a recipe for a food that comes from one of your books.

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

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What are your favorite and least favorite questions people ask you about your writing?

December 31, 2018


Share your writing goals for 2019.

I may not have all of 2019 planned out, but I know what the first several months will look like for my writing.

First, I need to finish up my current work in progress, The Contessa’s Brooch. Yes, Harmony Duprie is back in action, fighting crime in the small town of Oak Grove. This time, she’s chasing down a firebug.

While I’m finishing the edits on Book Four, I’ll also be working with my cover artist to design new covers for the entire series. Much as I love the current covers, (Thank you, K.M. Guth!) there are good reasons to make the switch. The main one being is that the cover appeals to the wrong audience.

I can’t count how many times I’ve been asked if the stories are written for tweens or younger. If you’ve read them, you know they aren’t. So the time has come to retire them and move on to covers that are more ‘mature’ looking.

And while all of that is happening, I need to start planning the next Harmony book. She’s already nagging me. I don’t know exactly what she has in mind, but I’m sure it’ll be different!

Will there be another Free Wolves story in the works?  I haven’t decided yet. But getting two Harmony books out in the same year is pretty ambitious so I won’t commit myself to anything more.

So while you say goodbye to the current covers, I’m off to see what goals the other authors on this hop have made.

Happy New Year!

December 31, 2018

Share your writing goals for 2019.

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

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December 24, 2018


What is your fondest holiday memory?

That’s tough, because there are so many good ones. Running downstairs to open the presents. Cleaning the silverware that only got used once or twice a year. Playing the new games with the family. Candy. Christmas decorations. Snow.

But the best of all? I loved going to church and singing Christmas carols. There was no professional chorus to lead the singing, no elaborate accompaniment, no soaring harmonies, just a lot of average voices joined in song. And unlike most weeks when people were tentative about joining in, everyone knew the melodies if not all the words and was willing to give it their best shot.

 And the songs themselves were uplifting and the messages were ones of happiness and peace. Something we all needed when the country was divided over political squabbles. (Kind of like now!) They put a touch of brightness and hope in our hearts.

And that is my wish for each and every one of you this holiday season. May you be touched by the spirit of love in whatever shape that takes for you.

December 24, 2018

What is your fondest holiday memory?

Rules:
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December 17, 2018

Do you believe in true love?

True love. The territory of poets for hundreds of years. How can I doubt it? I come from a long line of people who have found true love. My husband and I got engaged after six weeks after we met, married after three months and have been together for forty-three years! My parents were together in love for 60 some years, and separated only by death. My grandparents on my father’s side were together happily for many years, again parted only by death.  

That doesn’t mean it’s been all sunshine and roses. We’ve had our rough spots, like most people. But we’ve never given up on each other, and I think that’s what makes it true love. We’re growing old together—not so gracefully—and I firmly believe we’ll live up to our wedding vow of ‘until death do us part.’

Romantic love isn’t the only kind of true love. Parents and children, siblings, even good friends can all know true love in different forms. And how about pets? The animals who choose to live with us can sense our feelings and know when we need an extra cuddle or a warm furry body that needs a head scratch. Because they demand so little in return, their love may be one of the truer forms of the emotion.

So yes, I believe in true love. And in the words of the old song

What the world needs now is love, sweet love
It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of
What the world needs now is love, sweet love,
No not just for some but for everyone

Songwriters: Burt F. Bacharach / Hal David

Now I’m off to find out how the other authors feel about true love.

December 17, 2018

Do you believe in true love?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

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December 10, 2018

We are writers. This is our time to shine. What are some of your favorite lines from your books?

This week is the dictionary definition of #humblebrag. Every now and then, I look at the line I just wrote and think “Wow, that’s a good one!” So here are a few of my favorites.

I think this series of lines is when I first fell in love with Harmony Duprie, the main character of the Oak Grove Mysteries. The concept of this level-headed, intelligent woman having such a illogical reaction to an everyday event really helped me form her character.

That’s from The Marquesa’s Necklace, if you haven’t read it. 


And here’s a selection from Her Ladyship’s Ring, the second book in the series.It’s a conversation between Detective Thomason, Harmony, and her landlords. 

Of course, I can’t forget the Free Wolves series. Here’s a quote from Wolves’ Pawn.

You can find links to buy all of my books here: My Books




And I lied. Here’s another short one from Wolves’ Gambit

Now I’m done, and off to find out everyone else’s favorite lines

December 10, 2018

We are writers. This is our time to shine. What are some of your favorite lines from your books?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

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