Blog-Mountain Musings - P.J. MacLayne

Ewoks and Redwoods #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne October 8, 2023 October 8, 2023 Open Book

Oct 9, 2023

Has a book or movie ever been based somewhere you’ve lived? How did it compare?

Many years ago, the world was taken by storm by the phenomenon of Star Wars. A few years later, work started on the next film, the Return of the Jedi, and was eagerly waited for by fans.

Part of the film, the scenes with the Ewok village, were filmed near where I lived at the time. It was an open secret that the filming was happening, but I don’t know of anyone who tried to show up on the site. Parts of the filming took place at Jedediah Smith State Park, about 10 miles away, more of it on nearby private land.

And the backgrounds in the movie were realistic. Redwoods and the underlying bushes are marvels of nature. I often went for long walks in the various forests. Note: Part of the private land is now the site of a maximum security prison. Other areas, including the state parks, have been ravaged by forest fires. I don’t think any of the bigger redwood trees have been destroyed.

It’s hard to describe the impact of seeing a redwood for the first time. I’ve left a piece of my soul with them.

The scenes in the movie are enhanced, naturally, but they hold true the spirit of the area. (No, there are villages high among the trees. Not for humanoid creatures, anyway.)

I’ve lived in several area that have had books written or movies made about them (Cheyenne and cowboys, anyone? How about Daytona Beach?) but the redwoods are the most memorable.

How about anyone else? Where have you been that has been memorialized in a book or movie? Let’s follow the links below and see what the other authors share.

Until next time, please stay safe.

Oct 9, 2023

Has a book or movie ever been based somewhere you’ve lived? How did it compare?

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.

AI – Assistance or Threat? #IWSG

By P.J. MacLayne October 3, 2023 October 3, 2023 IWSG

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!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer – aim for a dozen new people each time – and return comments. This group is all about connecting!

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
The awesome co-hosts for the October 4 posting of the IWSG are Natalie Aguirre, Kim Lajevardi, Debs Carey, Gwen Gardner, Patricia Josephine, and Rebecca Douglass!

October 4 question: The topic of AI writing has been heavily debated across the world. According to various sources, generative AI will assist writers, not replace them. What are your thoughts?

A while back, I talked about AI in a blog post. While I don’t use it in a major way, I do use a computer program for spell and grammar checking. Although the program I use (ProWritingAid) also offers potential fixes for problematic sentence structure, that feature feels inadequate, and I mostly ignore it.

I haven’t used any AI program to ‘write.’ I’ve run into what I suspect are AI generated blog posts, and found them lacking in their content and writing style. But would an average reader feel the same way?

My worry is that until better tools are created to identify what is computer generated vs. what a human has written, AI content will be a threat. There are already bogus books on Amazon that Amazon hasn’t figured out how to detect. (But Amazon has always had a problem with ‘fake’ books.) If readers get bitten by additional sham books and dodgy writing, the whole writing community will be suspect. That could be a major problem for indie authors.

It feels as if we are in for a rough transition. I hate to see authors losing income to people who are churning out content with little or no effort on their part. But AI tools can also be beneficial if used properly.

Check out some of the other writers on this hop my following the links below.

Until next time, please stay safe.

Who Believed in Me? #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne October 2, 2023 October 2, 2023 Open Book

Oct 2, 2023

Who was the first person who ever believed in you?

I grew up in the shadow of my genius older sister. She was a year ahead of me in school, and I ended up with many of the same teachers. Comparisons were inevitable. Although I was a good student, I was a different person. My mother saved many of my report cards, and many say the same thing. “P.J. does not live up to her potential.”

The truth is, I was an odd mix of personalities. Part bookworm, part outdoorsman, part creative, part scientist. It wasn’t until I was middle-aged that I was I realized I was a computer geek. (Personal computers didn’t exist when I was a child. Does that mean I was born too soon?)

Back to the original train of thought. Once I got to high school, I had to prove myself to a whole new batch of teachers. Even though many of them had taught my sister, and a few of them my older brothers, they seemed more willing to view me as an individual. I flourished in that atmosphere.

I still disappointed my teachers. They thought that with my grades and the classes I took, I should aim for a career in one of the sciences. Physics, to be precise. But I had no desire to pursue that field. Of course, the world of computers still existed on only punch cards, and no one ever suggested that might be a potential career to pursue.

But several of the teachers took an interest in helping me find myself. I should mention this was a Catholic school, with both priests and nuns on the faculty. Unlike the stereotypes, the nuns were kind and caring. Several of them took me under their wings. The two most notable were Sister Lois Marie and Sister Mary Andrew. Sister Lois guided my love of the English language, and Sister Mary Andrew shepherded me through my math courses. Both nurtured my love of learning and went beyond their job duties to guide my personal growth.

I think they would have been surprised at how things turned out for me. Retired as a computer server administrator (computer geek) with nearly a dozen published books (indie author). They would have approved at the mix of my creative and my mathematical sides, working in a field that didn’t exist when they knew me, and publishing books in a way that also didn’t exist back then.

In my WIP, I’m writing a scene that may be a tribute to them. Well, not exactly them, but to the love and kindness they showed me and many others. Thanks, Sisters!

Who believed in our other authors? Follow the links below to find out.

Oct 2, 2023

Who was the first person who ever believed in you?

Attack of the Publisher: Writing Freedom vs Money #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne September 24, 2023 September 25, 2023 Open Book

Sept 25, 2023

If you were given a large advance by a traditional publishing company and told to produce a series of books in a certain amount of time that obviously you would have to give up the rights to (maybe they would alter your writing too) and do all your own marketing, would you take them up on the offer?

Over a decade ago, When I first contemplated releasing a book, I did my research. Should I try for a traditional publisher or go independent, which was at the time, not quite new anymore? Ultimately, I chose to go indie, for many reasons.

First, I wanted to write a book that went against some of the genre rules. I was writing a wolf-shifter book that included romance, but no sex scenes. I had researched the market, and everything I found included erotic action. I simply had no interest in including those in my story. (Although it could have been done. There are several places where it would have been easy to add in one.)

Then I looked into payment. Sure, some authors get a big advance, but they are rare. What the normal author gets per each book sale is a fraction of the book’s cost. What I didn’t realize back then was how much publicity can cost for an indie author, but many signed authors still have to do all the groundwork to sell their writing.

Writing as an indie, I can also write at my own pace and not be beholden to someone else’s schedule. I’d be in a world of hurt if I had to write my current WIP based on a tight timeline. I’m at 35000 words, and I’ve written more words than that in one month, but not for this story. A publisher would be nagging me daily at this point. (And that wouldn’t help my motivation!)

But the major point in my choice to go indie was my age. I’m not a young thing, and I know finding an agent and selling a book to a publisher and getting a manuscript through editing and production can take years. And years. Like I said, I’m old. I didn’t want to wait that long.

Would I change my mind if I was offered a large sum of money?

They say that everyone and everything has a price. While that may be true, I don’t know mine. I write for the joy of writing, (even when it gives me grief). How can a price be put on that?

I’m looking forward to seeing how the other authors in this hop respond to this question. Find out by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

Sept 25, 2023

From One to Infinity #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne September 17, 2023 September 17, 2023 Open Book

Sept 18, 2023

Do you keep track of your word count on a daily basis? What’s your record for most and least words? (Not including those days when you don’t write anything.)

In the past, I’ve obsessed over the numbers of words I’ve written in the day as a measure of my productivity. I got into the habit when I participated in (NaNoWriMo) National Novel Writer’s Month. The goal is to write 50,000 words during the month of November. It’s a way to force myself to not obsess over the nitpicky bits of writing and just get words on paper.

Can I remember how many words I wrote daily during my last Nano? The goal is about 1660, The best I remember is around 2000. The worst during a sprint was less than 400. No, I no longer know the exact counts.

Now? I don’t keep count of exactly how many words I write when I write. I’m not even writing every day because of the projects I want to finish outside before cold weather moves in. I’m more focused on getting the story right. If that means I slow down and pay attention to word choice, so be it. The story I’m writing is darker than my normal style, and I’m crafting it versus just writing it. Some days I may write 500-700 words, other days squeak out 100. Then there are the days when I strip out 300 words and replace them. It’s a slow process.

Yes, I am still obsessing over my work-in-progress, but not its word count. I’m currently around 33,000 words, which I figure is about half the book. I have loose ends all over the place, but plenty of time to tie things together. I’m obsessing about the balance between action and emotions, and how to tie the two together. Nothing is simple. Everything and everyone is suspect. It slows down word count and for this book, that’s okay.

I’m making guesses on who among the authors on this hop count words. (I got a sneak peek at one of the posts, so I’m cheating!) Find out with me by following the links below.

Until next time, please stay safe.

Sept 18, 2023

Do you keep track of your word count on a daily basis? What’s your record for most and least words? (Not including those days when you don’t write anything.)

My Newest Favorite Book #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne September 10, 2023 September 10, 2023 Open Book

Sept 11, 2023

It’s been a long time since we’ve done this – what is your favorite book (not your own.) Has it changed in the last few years?

You would think, being retired, that I would have more time for reading. That’s what I thought. I was wrong.

Oh, I have the time. But not the habit. Shoot, I haven’t visited the library in the past few months. There’s always something to do in the yard, or the house, or for my WIP. I feel guilty about it.

My next project is painting my front steps (purple) . I bought the paint, but then found out I need to scrape off all the old stuff. But we’re in the middle of a rainy spell, so that has to wait.

And then there’s the project to divert some of the ground and rainwater water flow to different parts of my yard, and eliminate the soggy places. I need to go buy more gravel.

I have accomplished a few things. I dug out all the mulch and gravel from the spot in my yard where there used to be a swing set. I don’t know if I’ll put in a firepit or a flower garden there. And we planted an apple tree and a lilac. I couldn’t get my hands on a mountain laurel, so I’ll settle for a rhododendron to be put in this fall.

But back to reading. I have read a few books in the last year, but none of them were memorable. Certainly, no new favorite. I have failed miserably in my goal to read at least one book from each author in this hop. (Maybe this winter!) And I don’t remember what I mentioned as my favorite the last time we talked about this, so this will be fresh to me.

My old favorites are the Anne McCaffrey Dragonrider books, specifically the Harper Hall series. If I had to pick one, it would be the first, Dragonsong. I love the twist that book brought to the ongoing Pern series. I think I’ve read all of McCaffrey’s books, although I stopped reading the Pern books when her son started writing them.

A more contemporary book I fell in love with is The Devil’s Caress by Angela Pryce. I love the way the story deals with fudging the lines between good and evil. But there are lots of authors I admire even if their books don’t rise to my personal favorite. I won’t list them here, because I’d leave someone out and it would make me (and them) sad.

I’ll bet when I read the favorite books of the other authors on this hop, I’ll be adding to my ‘To Be Read’ list. Find out by following the links below.

Until next time, please stay safe.

Sept 11, 2023

It’s been a long time since we’ve done this – what is your favorite book (not your own.) Has it changed in the last few years?

Happy Birthday Insecure Writer’s Support Group! #IWSG

By P.J. MacLayne September 5, 2023 September 6, 2023 IWSG

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!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer – aim for a dozen new people each time – and return comments. This group is all about connecting.

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
The awesome co-hosts for the September 6 posting of the IWSG are Sonia Dogra, J Lenni Dorner, Pat Garcia, Sarah – The Faux Fountain Pen, and Meka James! HAPPY TWELTH BIRTHDAY INSECURE WRITER’S SUPPORT GROUP!!!

September 6 question: The IWSG celebrates 12 years today! When did you discover the IWSG, how do you connect, and how has it helped you?

I’ve been participating in this hop for a long time, off and on. I’m not sure when I started. The oldest post I can find was back in 2019, so four years ago. I think I ran across the group from through another author, when she posted about it on FB. (She doesn’t take part anymore.)

I’m not very good at the connected part, and that’s my fault. Although I read lots of interesting posts, I’m bad at commenting or following those blogs. I try to tweet (is that the right term anymore!) posts I’ve read but I don’t know how many views that gets for the other authors.

Why do I stick with it? It forces me to step away from whatever project I’m working on and think about something new, depending on what the topic of the month is. When I return to my WIP, I can look at it with a fresh eye.

So, Happy Birthday, #IWSG, and thank you to Captain Alex Cavanaugh, our founder.

Delving Into The Dark Side #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne September 3, 2023 September 4, 2023 Open Book

Sept 4, 2023

What’s the biggest problem you have in your writing right now?

For those of you that have read my Harmony Duprie Mysteries, you know they are on the ‘light’ side. No on-scene murders, no blood and gore every other page, no one dies weekly. They were fun.

What I’m working on is the opposite of that. And it’s tough, changing my mindset.

My new main character is Cheyenne McGregor, Annie to her friends and co-workers, a divorced woman in her late twenties. She was in a major car accident before the story starts, and bears the scars to prove it. The story takes place in Pittsburgh, PA in the mid 1980s, when computers were about to go personal and change the world. But Pittsburgh was having additional issues because the steel industry that funded the local economy was dying.

I’m making the setting as realistic to the time as possible, using a mix of real and fake places. It’s harder to research than I expected, because so many of the records of that time are not widely available on the internet. Shoot, I spent an hour trying to figure out if police uniforms were blue or black back then. (They were blue – I think.)

I’ve put Annie to work in a barely-staying-afloat private investigating firm, working part time as a PI and part time as a bookkeeper. The scene I’m currently writing takes place in a wrong-side-of-town bar, searching for her abusive ex. Her boss, Mike Edwards, is helping her, against his better judgement. Making the bar low-life enough in a few choice sentences is tough, although I think the cockroach scuttling across her shoe is a nice touch. Having her squish it is a bonus.

My biggest current problem in my writing? Letting the dark side of life have free rein on my story. I’m pretty sure Annie will have at least one hospital stay. Maybe more. I’m not sure how big the body count will be.

What about the other authors on this hop? What are their biggest problems? Find out by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

Sept 4, 2023

What’s the biggest problem you have in your writing right now?

Snack of the Day #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne August 27, 2023 August 27, 2023 Open Book

August 28, 2923

What snack do you like with your cuppa (coffee/tea?)?

Many of you may know that I don’t drink coffee. Not that I have any objection to it, I just don’t like it. I tried to learn to appreciate the flavor so I could have a cup of coffee in the morning with my husband, but it never happened. I’d still make him a pot, but I wouldn’t drink it. Now that we are retired and have a single-serve coffee maker, he makes his own.

Tea is different. I enjoy the occasional cup. Flavors may vary, depending on my mood, the weather, and what is currently in my cupboard. But a morning cup isn’t part of my daily routine. When I have a cup, it is a treat by itself and I don’t have snacks to go with it. Water, plain, boring water is my current daily drink.

That’s not to say I don’t give in to the munchies during my day. As much as I like to pretend I eat healthy, chocolate in various forms is my downfall. Yes, I keep my fridge stocked with a variety of cheeses, but they aren’t as satisfying as good ‘ol chocolate.

Although I’ve gotten choosy about my chocolate. No more of the big US brands. The market has become saturated with at least one of my old favorites, and I rarely buy it anymore. It feels like the quality has gone done. Or I’ve become pickier. I’m even tired of some of the better quality brands—or my willpower is getting stronger.

I’ve never been much for salty snacks, either. Chips don’t thrill me. I’m okay with pretzel sticks in limited amounts.

But I’m no saint. I eat what is handy. The trick is buying only the ‘good’ stuff. I fail at that regularly.

Oh, I don’t limit my characters to my beverage peculiarities. Coffee earns frequent mentions in my stories. For example, from “Her Ladyship’s Ring”

It threw me for a loop when I woke to the smell of freshly brewed coffee. Even in the days when Jake and I were together, I’d always been the first one up. I pulled on my robe, put my hair into a ponytail, and went to see what he was up to.

Greeted by a scene of domestic tranquility, I wondered if Jake had been replaced by a house brownie in the middle of the night. Last night’s dishes, including the cups we’d used for hot chocolate were washed and drying in the rack. Two mugs sat on the table, along with the sugar, and a spoon neatly placed on a napkin beside each. Jake was nowhere to be found.

How about you? Do you have a snack to go with your daily beverage? Let’s see what the other authors on this hop drink by following the links below.

Until next time, please stay safe!

August 28, 2923

What snack do you like with your cuppa (coffee/tea?)?

Beta Readers – Another Step in the Process #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne August 20, 2023 August 20, 2023 Open Book

August 21, 2923

Do you use beta readers? Have they been useful in improving your writing?

My books get seen by lots of eyes before I ever release them to the world. And some of the eyes are beta readers.

But they are more than readers. I am part of an on-line group that critique each other’s works. Not the same people all the time, and some of them may read several selections and not stick around for an entire book. The setup can be both enlightening and frustrating.

Enlightening because it’s helpful to get fresh eyes on your writing in the middle of the book. If the new readers don’t get the gist of your story from a synopsis and the selection itself, it may indicate the plot needs tightened. If those new readers fall in love with the writing, it can be a great compliment.

Another benefit is that the site attracts users from a variety of skill levels, different writing types, and from around the world. So, while getting a variety of opinions, there is also the opportunity to learn from the stories that the others share.

The frustrating part is finding someone whose opinion you respect and they disappear after a few chapters. It’s the nature of the platform—people come and go as they have their own work that needs critiqued, and don’t stick around at other times.

What I don’t have are readers that I can send a complete manuscript to for general impressions. I’m not sure how useful that would be. It’s just not my style.

How about our other authors? Do they use beta readers? Find out by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

August 21, 2923

Do you use beta readers? Have they been useful in improving your writing?

P.J. MacLayne

Ewoks and Redwoods #OpenBook Blog Hop

AI – Assistance or Threat? #IWSG

Who Believed in Me? #OpenBook Blog Hop

Attack of the Publisher: Writing Freedom vs Money #OpenBook Blog Hop

From One to Infinity #OpenBook Blog Hop

My Newest Favorite Book #OpenBook Blog Hop

Happy Birthday Insecure Writer’s Support Group! #IWSG

Delving Into The Dark Side #OpenBook Blog Hop

Snack of the Day #OpenBook Blog Hop

Beta Readers – Another Step in the Process #OpenBook Blog Hop

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