The Realms of a Fantastical Mind

In October I took a full month off from doing what I love to do best.  Yes, I took off writing. Have you ever felt that you need to do something over and over again?  Have you felt the need to continue to do something because you've always done it? Try taking a break from that thing that you feel you NEED to do.  I know, it may be impossibly hard, but then, nothing is truly impossible.  So whether it be drinking beer, writing on your blog, or even writing. (I know, it’s a difficult concept, to not write, but bear with me.) I have to say that I did just that in October.  The stopping drinking the beer happened in my house too.  One thing I found out.  Not only did my hubby find out he doesn't need to drink beer, I found out I didn't need to write high fantasy all the time.  It was hard not writing at all, but instead of focusing on what I've been working on, my mind took different twists and turns...

Yes, I know you are as excited as I am!  No I'm not talking about almost to the end of NaNoWriMo, though I hope some of you have won, if not.  You're almost to the end! You can do it!!! Ok so it's Friday, and you all know that Friday means Blog Ring of Power Time!!!! Let's get to it with Jason Jack Miller on Deck. As always, this is a five part blog, make sure to check out the others Part 1 at the wonderful T.W. site Part 2, oh wait you're here, read this before you go on. Part 3 is with the fabulous Sandra Part 4 is hanging with the amazing Dean Part 5 is with our leader, the awesome Terri Ok ok, so let's get to it. Jason Jack Miller hails from Fayette County, Pennsylvania, as in, "Circus freaks, temptation and the Fayette County Fair," made famous by The Clarks in the song, "Cigarette." He is a writer, photographer and musician. An outdoor travel guide he co-authored with his wife in 2006 jumpstarted his freelancing career; ...

Welcome HEIDI GARRETT, this week’s Blog Ring of Power guest! She was born and raised in Texas, lived more than a decade in Southern California, and now she resides in Spokane, WA, with her husband and their two cats. So far, she loves the snow. Don’t miss the rest of Heidi’s interview at: Part 1 @  Sandra - Monday, Oct. 8 Part 2 @  Dean - Tuesday, Oct. 9 Part 3 @  Terri - Wednesday, Oct. 10 Part 4 @ T.W.- Thursday, Oct. 11 Part 5 @  Emily - Friday, Oct. 12 Let's chat about a few Words of Wisdom with Heidi  BRoP:     Tell us about your route to success – how/when did you decide to self-publish? Did you query an agent first? How did you handle the editing, proofreading, cover design, etc. HG:  I decided to self-publish in January of 2012. I queried two earlier drafts of the manuscript. Both were rejected. I had originally planned to query the published version, but in December 2011 I got an older version of the iPhone for a ...

There are times when everyone gets burnt out.  Yes even in writing. When words seem to come get you instead of singing sweet songs in your ears. It's not writers block but something more, as if the fire of writing has left ash in its wake.  As the forest fires of nature, seeds are left under the grey dust, but only time will bring forth the sprouts of new words, new ideas, and reinforce thoughts to old ones. Everyone gets burnt out at some point.  Thinking too much on a Manuscript, revising and rewording over and over. The words get jumbled together.  Thoughts fade in the mind before they get on page. The only cure is time.  This is why it is not always good to write every day. Rest from the words, read a book, or if that is also too much, play a game, watch a few movies.  Take a week or two off to refresh your mind.  Do anything else.  I would suggest not even thinking about the MS, but I can't even succeed in doing that, so I wont push th...

It's another Blog Ring of Power Friday, hold onto your hats as we welcome Susan Quinn to the Realm.  You can find the other parts of the interview on my fellow BRoP host blogs Part 1 T.W. Part 2  um Me! tehehe Part 3 with Sandra Part 4 with Dean Part 5 with Terri Susan Kaye Quinn, Author Susan Kaye Quinn grew up in California, where she wrote snippets of stories and passed them to her friends during class. She pursued a bunch of engineering degrees and worked a lot of geeky jobs, including turns at GE Aircraft Engines, NASA, and NCAR. Now that she writes novels, her business card says "Author and Rocket Scientist" and she doesn't have to sneak her notes anymore. All that engineering comes in handy when dreaming up paranormal powers in future worlds or mixing science with fantasy to conjure slightly plausible inventions. Susan writes from the Chicago suburbs with her three boys, two cats, and one husband. Which, it turns out, is exactly as much a...

 It's Blog Ring of Power time again.  Today I would like to welcome Janet Beasley to the Realm... Hi Janet.   Here's the list for each part of the interview Part 1: With T.W. Part 2: Yup, right here with us fantastical people. Part 3: with Sandra Part 4: with Dean Part 5: with our fearless leader Terri .  Lets hear a bit about this awesome fantasy author before we get into The Writing Life. Hi, I’m Janet Beasley; Epic Fantasy Novelist and Scenic Nature Photographer. I am the author of the newly released epic fantasy series Hidden Earth Volume 1 Maycly – Parts 1, 2, and 3. I was born and raised in Beavercreek, Ohio where I was a proud 1979 graduate of Beavercreek High School. I now reside in central Florida and love hanging out together with family and friends for food and fun.      According to those who know me, I’m outgoing, fun, very creative and always try to look on the sunny side of life. Now granted, ...

It's Blog Ring of Power Time!!!  Today we are wrapping up the interview with Danielle For the beginning parts check out Part 1 with Sandra Part 2 with Dean Part 3 with Terri Part 4 with T.W. Award-winning author Danielle Ackley-McPhail has worked both sides of the publishing industry for over seventeen years. Her works include the urban fantasies, Yesterday's Dreams , Tomorrow's Memories , the upcoming Today’s Promise , and The Halfling’s Court , and the writers guide, The Literary Handyman . She edits the Bad-Ass Faeries anthologies and Dragon’s Lure , and has contributed to numerous other anthologies. She is a member of the New Jersey Authors Network and Broad Universe, a writer’s organization focusing on promoting the works of women authors in the speculative genres. She can be found on LiveJournal (damcphail, lit_handyman), Facebook (Danielle Ackley-McPhail), and Twitter (DMcPhail). Learn more at www.sidhenadaire.com .  Thanks for ...